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Photographic 

Sdences 

Corporation 


33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  institute  for  (Historical  Microreproc  jctions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6ti  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-itre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographiejue,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  imape  reproduite,  ou  c^^ui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  method?  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquAs  ci-dessous. 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagie 


□    Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurie  et/ou  pelliculAe 


□ 


Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


I      I    Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  g6ographiques  en  couleur 


□    Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  quo  bleue  ou  noire) 

□   Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

□    Bound  with  other  material/ 
RbM  avec  d'autres  documents 

0    Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serr^e  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  int^riaure 


D 


D 


Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certainas  pages  blanches  ajoutAes 
tors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  Atait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  hth  filmAes. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplimentaires; 


□    Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

n    Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdes 

□    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restauries  et/ou  pellicuides 

I — I    Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 


D 


Pages  ddcolordes,  tachetdes  ou  piqudas 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ddtachdes 


I      I    Showthrough/ 


Transparence 


□    Quality  of  print  varies/ 
Quality  in6gaie  de  I'impression 

[~~]    Includes  supplementary  material/ 


Comprend  du  mat6riel  suppl^mentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcles  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6t6  filmdes  A  nouvaau  de  fa^on  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  et  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film6  au  taux  da  reduction  indiqu6  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  ItX  22X 


26X 


/ 


30X 


12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


2IX 


32X 


Th«  copy  filmed  hara  has  baan  raproducad  thanks 
to  tha  o«n*roaltv  of: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 

Tha  Imagaa  appaaring  hara  ara  tha  baat  quality 
posalbia  conaldaring  tha  condition  and  laglbillty 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  kaaping  with  tha 
filnrtlng  contract  spacificatlons. 


Original  coplat  in  printad  papar  covers  ara  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printad  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, end  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shell  contain  the  symbol  -^>-  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  us 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


L'exempiaira  film*  fut  reproduit  grice  A  la 
ginArosltA  da; 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archr  )s  of  British  Columbia 

I.es  imagaa  suivantea  ont  At*  raprodultes  avac  la 
plus  grand  soin,  compta  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
da  la  nattet*  de  I'exemplelre  film*,  et  en 
conformity  avac  las  conditions  du  contrat  da 
fiimaga. 

Les  exempiaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimis  sont  filmis  en  commen9ant 
par  la  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
darniire  page  qui  comports  une  empreinte 
d'impression  oi'  d'illustration,  soit  par  la  second 
plat,  salon  la  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exempiaires 
originaux  sont  filmis  en  commenpant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  darniire  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboies  suivants  apparaitra  sur  ia 
derniire  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  seion  le 
cas:  le  symboie  -^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
filmis  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diffirents. 
Lorvque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichA,  il  est  filmA  A  partir 
de  i'angie  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'imeges  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
iilustrent  la  mAthode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

S 

6 

6  i^£i. 


6  tv-^, 


18.-N0rES  ON  A  RHCONNOISSANCli  OF 
COAST  OF  'i'HF  UNITFI 


TIIF  FISIIFRIFSOFTHH  PACIFIC 
STATHS  IN  1894. 


Bv  HUGH  M.  SMITH,  M.  D., 
Assistant  in  Charge  Division  of  Statistics  and  Mtthoits  of  the  Fisheries,  U.  S.  Fish  Commission. 


NARRATIVE  OF  THE  TRIP. 

Under  date  of  Miiy  8,  1804,  I  was  directt'd  by  tlu!  lion.  JfarHliall  McDonald,  V.  S. 
("oniinissionor  of  Fi.sli  and  I'isli('iic'.''i.  to  piofcrd  (<>  tlio  I'aciilc  coast  '•  for  tlie  purposo 
of  making;  a  .study  uf  the  ajtpaiatus  and  nicthodsof  tlie  ti.sliericsof  that  n>(;ion."  I 
waHiiiNtriictcd  to  make  obHcrvations  on  tlic  condition  of  tlie  aalnion  induKtry  of  tlie 
(lilferent  sections  that  it  wa.s  dccniod  advisable  to  visit;  to  consider  tlie  development 
of  the  market  lisliery  and  the  sardine  industry;  to  iuvestipite  the  hihtory,  jjrowth 
and  i)reseut  extent  of  the  stur^rcon  llsiiery  of  tlieCoiuudiiaHiver;  and  to  look  into  any 
(ither  branches  of  the  li.sherics  that  po.ssessed  special  interest.  I  was  directed  to  pive 
liarticular  attention  to  the  shad,  the  striiu'dbass.  the  black  bass,  thecattish,  the  carp, 
and  tlie  eel,  which  liave  been  artificially  introduced  from  the  east,  esi)ecially  observing 
their  distribution,  si/e,  commercial  importance,  and  food  value. 

I  was  ordere<l  to  leave  Wnshiufjton  on  or  about  May  l<»,  and  to  return  ii<>t  later 
tlian  July  10.  Pur.suaiit  to  these  instructions,  1  left  Wasliinston  May  I<H  and  arrived 
at  San  Francisco  May  '-'4.  Ten  days  were  spent  in  that  city,  devoted  ciiietly  to  au 
in.-ipectiou  of  the  (Ish  and  otiier  watt'r  jiroducts  cxpo.scd  for  sale  in  the  nnirkets;  to 
visits  to  the  fishermen's  wharf  vvherc  the  catch  is  di.schar^cd,  the  nets  are  dried,  and 
tlie  boats  are  moored;  and  to  an  examination  of  tlie  books  of  tlie  whole.sale dealers  for 
tlie  years  1803  and  18!M  for  the  purpose  of  taking,'  oil"  an  a<'count  of  all  shad,  striped 
basis,  carj),  and  catfish  handled.  The  American  Union  Fish  Company,  .\.  I'aiadini, 
<i.  ('amilloni,  and  .1.  II.  Kessin^  very  obp^in^ly  ])ermitted  this  examination  of  their 
records  when  the  object  of  the  iniiuiry  was  made  known,  and  are  entitled  to  tlic  tlianks 
•  ifthe  (Jommissiou  for  this  and  other  courtesies  shown.  Several  '(thcr  dealers  whom 
\i  was  not  possible  for  nie  to  visit,  owinn  to  the  short  time  available,  later  jrave  to 
representatives  of  the  California  Fish  <  'ommission  fixture,  similar  to  those  furnished  to 
me, copies  of  which  were  forwarded  to  this  Coinmissiou  by  the  ralifoinial  ommission. 

Ou  June  2, 1  went  from  Hail  I'rancisco  to  Los  Anjteles  and  San  Pedro,  chiefly  in 
order  to  examine  the  sardine  industry  centering  at  the  latter  jdace  and  to  interview 
the  proprietoi's  of  the  cannery,  wholiad  oflices  in  Los  Any;cles.  Tliroufih  the  courtesy 
of  Mr.  A.  r.  Halfhill,  vice-president  of  the  canning  company,  who,  in  San  Francisco, 
had  given  me  a  letter  of  introduction  to  the  superintendent  of  the  cannery,  I  was 
'iiabled  tomake  a  very  satisfactory  examiiiati(ni  of  the  met  hods  of  this  new,  interci  tinj^, 
and  important  branch  of  the  fisheries  during  the  two  days  passed  in  this  part  of  the 
.State.     1  returned  to  San  Francisco  .June  0. 

333 


224 


HUM.ETIN    UK    tin:    IMTKU    HTATE8    KISH    COMMISSION. 


At  the  iiivitntiun  of  Mr.  John  I*.  KalHioek,  cliiot'  deputy  of  tho  Cnlifornia  Fish 
f  oininisMion,  I  iicconip;iiii«'il  lijiii  niiil  Mr.  Wilson,  of  tln'  (Islii'iy  piotcctivo  force,  on  iiii 
otlU-ial  trip  in  tii*>  (■<^nMMis^iol^s  liiiniL-li.  totliciiiiptntaiit  lisiierydiHtrictH lying betwocu 
8an  Kraiu-isco  nuil  tlic  nppt'r  imrt  of  tlio  delta  of  tint  Sac  anu-nto  and  San  Joncpun 
rivers.  I  left  Sun  Frnmisco  on  .Iinu;  8  anil  retnrncMl  .Innc  10.  jiiissinf?  tlie  wliolc  of  the 
intervcnni};  tinic  in  a  vi'ry  interestinjj  and  iielpfnl  mijouin  in  the  waters  nann-d. 

The  route  from  Snn  FraneiHco  lay  north,  paut  the  llsliin;,'  Ntation  of  Messrs.  Lynde 
and  Ilongh,  in  Marin  County,  and  the  ('liini'si>  tisiiin^' eain|)s,  in  .Marin  and  Contra 
Costa  «'onnties.  San  I'aUlo  Hay,  ("aniuinez  Strait,  ami  Snisnn  iJay  were  then  trav- 
erseil,  all  of  tlieso  being  im]MU'tant  tishing  grounds  for  salmon,  slmd,  and  .striped  bas.s. 
Late  in  the  evening  the  San  Joaquin  Uiver  was  entered  and  a  stop  was  made  for  tho 
night  at  Antioeh.  Ne.vt  day  a  short  visit  was  lirst  paid  to  Collinsville,  on  the  Sacra- 
mento Kivor,  wlieru  I  attended  the  trial  of  some  gill  net  tishermen  arrested  for  viola- 
tion of  the  State  law  indhlliiting  the  setting  of  gill  nets  so  as  to  obstrnet  more  than 
one-third  the  width  of  a  stream.  Although  the  <  videnee  of  an  infraction  of  the  law 
was  indisputable,  the  jury  faile<l  to  convict,  being  evidently  impressed  with  the  recent 
decisitm  of  a  local  Jnstic<>  that  the  law  is  andtignous  and  that  the  words  "  more  than 
one  third  across  f  lie  width'"  of  a  river  may  involve  the  distansHi  between  two  remotely 
distant  jmints  on  opi)osite  siiles  of  the  river!  During  the  remainder  of  the  day,  tho 
launch  cruised  through  the  numeroii.s  sloughs  intersecting  tho  interesting  tale  lands 
of  the  ilelta  of  the  Sacramento  and  San  .loatpiin  rivers,  these  being  the  favorite 
spawning-grounds  for  shad  and  striped  bass,  as  well  as  important  tlshing-grounds 
for  them  anil  salmon.  The  forenoon  of  the  tbilowing  day  was  spent  in  the  .same  region, 
and  in  tho  afternoon  1  returned  to  San  Framisco. 

A  visit  occupyiig  jiaits  of  two  days  (June  I'J  and  l.'t)  was  m;'ili'  to  Monterey  and 
Pacific,  drove  from  San  l-'rancisco.  .Monterey  Hay  represents  the  southern  limit  of 
the  distribution  of  the  salmon,  shad,  and  strii)ed  bass,  and  is  additionally  interesting 
because  of  the  Chinese  and  other  important  tisheries  there  carried  on.  At  El  Monte, 
Mr.  H.  C,  Win.ston  Ims  shown  commendable  enterprise  in  bringing  together  and 
arranging  for  exhibition  a  maginliceiit  mounted  collection  of  the  marine  alga*  of  tho 
I'acilic  coast  which  has  been  admired  by  students  of  this  branch  nf  botany.  Mr. 
Winston  has  idso  arranged  in  a  large  i)rivate  exhibition  hall  nniny  of  the  rarer  and 
mine  attractive  Ibshes  of  that  part  of  the  Tacilic  coast,  including  sharks,  .skates,  ami 
other  largo  species. 

At  Facitie  Grove,  situated  at  the  southern  side  of  the  entrance  to  Monterey  Hay, 
the  summer  biologiial  school  of  the  Leianil  Stanford  Junior  FniverMty  hac  been 
established.  This,  at  the  time  of  my  visit,  was  in  charge  of  Dr.  Oliver  F.  Jenkins,  the 
professor  of  physiology  in  the  university,  by  whom  tlapurjioses  and  plans  of  the  school 
were  courteously  exi)laincd.  This  is  generally  conceded  to  be  the  best  site  on  the 
west  coast  for  a  biological  laboratory.  It  is  located  somewhat  like  Woods  lloll  with 
respect  to  the  distribution  of  the  fauna  of  the  northern  ami  southern  jiarts  of  the 
<-onst.  The  buildings  are  placed  on  a  rocky  blnft"  at  tho  extremity  of  the  point  of 
land  marking  the  division  between  the  ocean  and  ^Monterey  Hay.  <^n  tho  rocks  at  the 
very  doors  of  the  laboiatory  anemoiu's,  echini,  niollusks,  and  other  invertebrates  can 
be  gathered  without  the  use  of  apparatus,  while  the  water  in  the  imnediate  vicinity 
teems  with  a  great  variety  of  fish  and  other  marine  forms  of  animal  life.  I  was 
informed  by  Dr.  .lenkins  that  the  university  authorities  are  very  desirous  that  the 
IJ.  S.  Fish  Commission  shall  be  represented  at  the  laboratory.    There  are  certainly 


many  scit 

tiiuld  here 

Oi.  J II 

;iml  where 

llie  salmoi 

VViiil,. 

I'onimissiii 

Oregon  Cii 

the  falls  di 

I  ascades,  ii 

over  which 

vvitii  lampr 

liver. 

l'"rom  I 

liad  to  be  a 

lisliing,  hill 

Mid  had  re: 

silile  to  stiK 

t!ie  liigh  \vi 

Fortlaii 

tliieo  follow 

that  place  a 

My  ins] 

iiidcd  by  jMi 

tlie  use  of  li 

i^'land  and  i 

•  oiiditions  t 

I  retnri 

wliere  1  arri 


The  gei 
than  those 
NiliMon  lisJK 
lli:it  some 
til ritory  by 
till'  (akingi 
I'llicr  fisher, 
thirty  years 
Ihi'  ii.dustr; 
'■ii!i'     d  am 
"I'liibt  that 
iillhoiigh  tl 
iii-tance.  th 
The  viir 
j;ivi-  cmpl(i> 
■•■^.iilKMKX).  ' 
"i'"ely  fji7,3( 


N0TE8  ON   THE   FI8IIEKIES   OF  THE   PACIKiC   COAHT. 


225 


many  scioiitiflc  iirohliMiis  alTct-tiii^' tlu;  ((iiiiiiuTcial  tlHlicrieH  of  tlio  woHt  coii8t  wliicli 
I  iiiilil  licro  bu  Htiulii-Ml  to  t;n'i\\  )i(lvaiita{;o. 

Oil  •Iniio  l-'S  I  U'ft  Han  Francisco  for  I'ortland,  Orcg.,  where  I  urrived  June  Ifl, 
iiikI  wluTi'  the  tlirtT  following  (lays  were  passed  in  interviewing  persons  interested  in 
ilif  salmon  industry. 

Wliile  at  Portland  a  day  (June  10)  was  oeeiijued  in  a  vinit  to  tlie  U,  M.  Fish 
(dniniission  station  on  the  Cla-lcainas  Kiver  and  to  the  falls  of  Wiilanu'tte  Kiver  at 
Oregon  t'ity.  l(ot!>  streams  were  higii  and  miuldy.  A  elose  personal  inspettioa  of 
I  lie  falls  disclose<l  the  presence  of  a  large  nund>er  of  salmon  immediately  below  the 
I  iiseades,  although  no  llsli- were  oltsei-ved  in  the  act  of  ascending  the  falls.  The  rocks 
liver  which  the  water  was  breaking  and  at  the  sides  of  the  falls  were  literally  covered 
witii  lampreys  (/v'«^»(/>/»<'HH»( /riV/rH^/<«.'<)  endeavoring  to  rea«'h  the  lieailwattus  of  the 
river. 

From  Porthind  it  was  my  inlentioir  to  visit  the  Cascades  and  The  Dalles,  but  this 
liad  to  lie  abandoned,  owing  to  the  high  lluods,  which  had  caused  a  discoiitihnautte  of 
lisliing,  had  entirely  suspended  railroad  com  nuinication  with  the  npi>er  Tobunbia, 
iiiid  bad  rendered  water  transportation  uncertain.  This  state  of  alVairs  made  it  pos- 
sible to  study  the  fisheries  of  only  the  lower  river,  which  were  but  little  att'ect<Ml  by 
t!ic  high  water. 

I'ortland  was  left  on  June  1!)  and  Astoria  was  reached  on  the  next  day.  The 
tliree  following  days  were  occupied  in  examination  of  the  canneries  and  lisheries  of 
tiiat  ph»c(^  and  vicinity. 

My  inspectu)!! of  the  important  fisheries  of  the  lower  Columbia  Uiver  was  greatly 
iiined  by  Mr.  M.  J.  Kinuey,  of  Astoria,  who,  in  addition  to  other  courtesies,  extended 
lilt;  use  of  his  steam  launch  for  a  visit  to  the  pound-net  and  seining  grounds  at  Sand 
island  and  in  IJaker  Hay,  thus  permitting  a  closer  and  more  satisfactory  study  of  the 
I  (iiiditions  than  would  have  otherwise  been  jiossible. 

I  returned  to  Portland  on  .lune  24  an<r  left  the  next  day  for  Washington,  D.  C, 
where  1  arrived  JulyL*. 

GENERAL  REMARKS  ON  THE  WEST  COAST  FISHERIES. 

The  general  commercial  fisheries  of  the  Pacific  States  are  of  more  recent  origin 
tliaii  those  of  any  otliercoast  section  of  the  country,  and,  with  the  exception  of  the 
siibnon  fishery,  they  are  less  devcloju'd  than  those  of  any  other  region.  It  is  true 
tliat  some  branches  of  the  fisheries  were  established  before  tlii'  aciiiii.sition  of  the 
territory  by  the  lJnite<l  States,  but  it  was  only  at  a  comparatively  recent  date  that 
tii(!  taking  of  the  salmon  for  commercial  i)urpose8  liegan,  while  the  utilization  of  most 
ntiicr  fishery  resources  has  had  a  much  later  origin.  Nevertheless,  in  the  period  of 
tliirty  years,  during  which  it  may  be  said  the  fisheries  of  the  west  coast  have  existed, 
till-  ii.dustry  has  attained  great  imiHUtance  and  now  ranks  next  to  that  of  tii<»  New 
I'.iig)  d  and  Middle  Atlantic  States  in  extent  and  value.  There  seems  no  reason  to 
(Inabt  that  the  business  will  assume  vastly  greater  proportions  in  the  near  future, 
although  there  is  cause  to  apprehend  a  decline  in  several  important  branches,  as,  for 
instance,  the  salmon,  the  wlialc.  the  fur-seal,  and  the  sea  otter  fisheries. 

The  various  jdiases  of  the  fishing  industry  of  the  west  coast,  ineludiiig  Alaska, 
;!ivi'  emiiloyment  to  about  17,000  porsi-ns.  the  capital  invested  amounts  to  about 
■•■".'.MKf.tKM).  and  the  annual  value  to  the  lishermen  of  the  products  taken  is  approxi- 
niatelv  $7,300,000. 

K.  C.  U.  IgM-U 


itiirtCtt 


22fi 


UI'LLKTIN   OK   TUK    UNITED   STATES    FWII    COMMISSION. 


Tlio  HptMrial  tlslii-rioM  wliicli  give  tliih  rccioit  imiHi  of  thu  ])ri)iiiiiH-ii(>o  it  ])ohhi>hmi>s 
iir«-  tli<*  Hulinoii,  till*  \vli:ii<',  tlit*  oyHttT,  tli*-  fiir  himI,  the  t<liriiii|>,  tlit;  rod,  tiit'  cnil),  aiui 
the  li<Ti'iiiK<  >»  tiM>  ortltM-  naine«t.  Tim  viiliie  of  tliv  saltiioii  liHlit^ry  in  about  e(|tial  to 
ttiHt  of  all  otiu'i-  lislicritiH  «;o<nbiiic(l,  wliile  tlie  canning  industry  coniitTted  witli  the 
flnheiy  han  an  aiiiiiiai  oiit|Mir  but  little  les.'t  in  value  rliaii  that  of  all  tlio  tlHliery  products 
of  til'*  e<.asf.  The  salnmii  are  by  far  the  most  important  lislies  or  fishery  pioducts  of 
Alaska,  Oregon,  and  Wa.siiington,  but  in  the  lislieries  of  (Jaliforuia  they  are  surpassed 
by  whales,  oystei's,  and  shrimps. 

A  itonspicuous  feature  of  llit5  (Islieries  of  California  is  the  entire  absence  of  ]M)und 
nets,  trap  nuts,  weirs,  and  other  sinulai  lixed  devices.  While  it  is  true  that  ti  few 
fyke  nets  are  eni]>loyed  in  the  Sacramento  Han  .loa(|nin  delta,  their  I'se  is  so  restricted 
and  their  importance  so  sli};ht  that  they  niay  be  dismissed  from  consideration.  The 
absence  of  this  class  of  nets,  which  are  such  ]M-ominent  Victors  in  the  tlsheries  of  the 
other  States  of  this  region,  is  owing  wholly  to  legislation.  The  State  has  .shown  a 
disinclination  to  permit  the  use  of  such  ap|iliances,  ard  no  very  determined  citbrts 
have  been  nnule  by  coinnierciiil  tlsherinen  to  secure  the  repeal  of  the  existing  prohib- 
itive law.  While  the  setting  of  f>  ke  nets  is  enjoined,  the  law  is  not  strictly  enforced, 
for  the  reason  that  in  the  opinion  of  the  .State  Fish  Commission  the  obvious  iiurpose 
of  the  act  was  to  prevent  the  destruction  of  desirable  food-tlsh,  and  espe«ially  immature 
fishes;  wliereas  the  tew  nets  employed  are  set  in  such  situations  an<l  niuler  such  condi- 
tions that  (Ml'    llshos  gs'nerally  regarded  as  worthless,  or  nearly  so,  are  or  «'an  betaken. 

In  no  other  region  in  the  United  .States  are  the  ])eo|ile  more  generally  impressed 
with  the  benelicial  results  of  artificial  proiiagation  and  "lore  ready  to  aid  ami 
a|tprovc  any  fish-cultural  nwasures  that  are  jjrojterly  :er<)nimended.  While  the 
results  of  salmon-culture  have  in  some  places  been  nnirked  and  are  readily  acknowl 
edged  by  fishermen  and  others,  this  alone  is  not  suthcient  to  account  for  the  wide- 
sjtread  advocacy  of  llsh  culture  which  exists  among  all  classes  and  in  all  jiarts  of  the 
I'aeiflc  coast.  We  must  look  further  for  the  lause.  There  seems  little  reason  to  doubt 
that  to  the  marvelous  success  of  shad  and  striped  bass  acclimatization  on  the  west 
coast  must  be  attributed  the  firm  belief  in  fish  cultural  work  that  pervades  all  localities 
in  which  fish  is  an  article  of  food  or  an  object  of  capture.  One  or  both  of  these  new 
species  are  well  known  in  almost  every  accessible  coast  settlement  in  the  three  States, 
and  they  are  an  enduring  testimony  to  the  influence  of  uuin  over  lish  production. 

As  may  be  reatlily  uuderstocu!,  the  time  available  for  the  ins|>ection  of  the  tlsheries  I 
of  the  west  coast  wan  so  short  as  to  jtreelude  a  com])lete  study  of  the  subject,  ami  it  j 
was  necessary  to  restrict  thc!  inquiry  to  those  (daces  which  afforded  the  best  oppor- 
tunity to  see  the  greatest  variety  offish  and  fishing  in  the  shortest  time,  and  to  those] 
fisheries  pos.sessing  the  greatest  interest  and  importance. 

The  chief  object  of  the  visit  to  the  I'acilic  Coast  was  to  give  the  writer  a  i)roperj 
conception  of  the  ])rincipal  phases  of  the  commercial  fisheries  there  carried  on.  in 
order  to  better  eipiip  him  for  the  administration  of  the  attairs  of  the  division  niidfr  I 
his  charge.  A  great  many  memcuanda  were  made  on  the  varitms  asjiects  of  different 
branches  <d"  the  fishing  industry,  of  which  the  following  imtes  form  a  part.  ^Mucli  oil 
]>ersonal  interest  to  the  writer  that  was  noted,  however,  would  not  have  snf11cieut| 
importance  to  deserve  mention  in  this  report. 

The  notes  her»'with  presented  cover  only  a  few  of  the  fisheries  of  the  west  coiist.j 
and  mostly  relate  to  only  a  few  of  the  phases  of  those  branches  which  are  cousidentl. 
They  represent  the  per.sonal  observations   and  researches  of  the  writer,  and  .ncj 


XOTKS    ON    THE    KI8HF.KIK8    OF    Tlir,    rACIKIC    COAST. 


227 


[MtHHt-HHt'S 

iTiilt,  and 

t-qiial  to 

witli  the 

pvotlucts 
(idncts  of 
KurpaHSod 

!  of  pound 
liiit  a  few 

restricted 
tion.    The 
ries  of  the 
s  shown  a 
letl  ett'orts 
iijr  pr(»hib- 
y  enforced, 
118  i)nrp«isu 
y  iinuiatnre  j 
such  couui- 
in  lie  taken. 
,'  impressed 
to   aid   and 

While  the 
ly  acknowl 
»r  the  wiiUv 

liirts  of  the 
<()n  to  doubt 
(III  the  we.st 
all  h)ealities  j 
»f  these  new 

hree  States. 

duetion. 

the  lishcrios 

bject,  antl  it 
beat  oppor 

and  to  those 

iter  a  proi>er  I 
irried  on,  i" 
nvision  undei 

of  diilereiit 
rt.     Much  of 

ve  sutWcieiit 


selected  for  incorporation  in  this  re|»ort  becun.so  some  of  the  topics  discu.ssed  are  now 
tlie  «td)jects  of  much  atteiifi(ni  in  the  I'acitic  States,  while  others  iiave  not  before  been 
<'onsidered  and  aie  lc};itiniale  news  outside  of  circuniscribed  fxeo^rapiiical  limits. 

A  special  object   in  view  in  visitinji   this   region  was  an   investipition   of  the 
lisheries  for  shad,  striped   bass,  blacl;  bass,  cattish,  i-arj),  and  eel,  which  have  b«'en 
Mrtiticiall.v  introduced.     A  discussion  of  this  im|iortaiit  subject,  to  which  much  aften 
tion  was  devote<i,  is,  by  permission,  reserved  for  a  se))arate  reiwrt. 

SARDINES,  ANCHOVIES.  AND  SARDINE-CANNING. 

.V«^"V  on  thr  Horilinr  (iinl  niichorif  of  the  Vacijio  vuitnt. — Tlie  r'aliforiiia  sardine 
[Chiiuii  Hiojii.r)  is  very  closely  rehited  to  the  sanliue  of  ICurope  (f.  i>ilfhiniluM],  from 
which  it  chiefly  dillers  in  havinj;  no  teeth  and  less  stronjjly  serrated  scales  on  the 
belly.  It  attains  a  lenj^th  of  nearly  a  foot.  It  is  found  alonj;  the  entire  I'acilic  coast 
tif  the  United  States.  The  tlsli  is,  however,  most  constant  in  appearanct^  and  most 
abundant  on  the  s(uithern  part  of  the  coast,  an«l  it  is  doubtful  if  it  exists  in  sutllcient 
numbers  to  nuiintain  a  regular  tishery  north  of  San  Francisco.  Kven  at  ihiit  ])hieo 
the  sui)ply  is  uncertain.  While  tlu're  have  been  |)crio(ls  of  years  in  which  the 
sardines  were  tbuiid  in  San  Francisco  Hay  in  larjje  (|uantities,  and  for  a  considorablo 
time  in  each  season,  for  the  past  Hve  yeais  they  have  been  very  scarce. 

The  distribution  of  the  anchovy  (Stolcitliiinin  rini/iiiii)  is  sinular  to  that  of  the 
sardine.  It  oc«'iirs  in  abundance  along  the  entire  coast,  and  is  often  tbund  in 
enormous  (piantities  in  Turret  Sound,  San  l-'rancisco  Hay.  and  elsewhere.  It  reaches  a 
maximum  si/.o  of  about  7  int-hes.  In  most  places  it  is  known  as  the  anchovy,  but 
in  I'u|i;et  Sound,  accoding  to  Swan,  it  is  called  "sardine." 

I'rDupvvlH  anil  drxitlcfutu  for  siinliiiccaiitniifi. —  With  the  exception  of  salmon,  prac- 
tically no  attention  has  been  given  to  the  canning  of  lish  on  the  I'acilic  c<»ast.  Tint 
packing  of  .salmon  has  u|>  to  this  time  absorbed  nearly  all  the  interest  in  fish  prepared 
in  this  way.  The  (pu'stifui  of  canning  other  kinds  of  fish  has,  however,  been  «'on 
sidered;  the  prositects  for  the  iiuiuguration  of  i)rolltable  work  of  this  kind  have  Ix'cn 
discussed,  and,  as  will  hereiifter  be  shown,  several  factories  for  the  canning  of  snnill 
lish  have  been  built. 

The  natural  advantages  which  the  west  coast  posses-ses  for  the  canning  of  sardines 
and  other  similar  tlsii  are  unusually  good,  and  arc  su])erior  in  some  re8])e<'t8  to  tho.se 
ipf  the  east  coast.  At  least  the  iwo  tlshes  immed,  the  sardine  and  the  anchovy,  Kuit- 
able  for  canning  as  "sardines,"'  occur  in  large  ijuantities,  the  first  named  very  closely 
icsembling  and  being  an  excellent  substitute  f<u'  the  sardine  of  southein  Euroi)e. 
Tlie  dry  atnu»sphere  and  other  climatic  comlitions  of  the  southern  ('oast  of  California 
me  very  favorable  f(»r  the  preparation  of  a  good  grade  of  caniu'd  fish.  The  culture 
of  the  olive  supplies  a  native  oil  of  superior  quality,  which  is  essential  in  the  canising 
i<\'  the  best  goods.  Another  item  of  importance  to  canners  in  this  connection  is  the 
iiliundance  of  clieai)  labor. 

The  chief  desideratum  in  the  establishnn'ut  of  a  factory  for  the  canning  of  sardines 
iiid  other  similar  fish)  is  a  regular  sujtply  of  flsh  diuing  a  certain  periial.    This  is 
ilionght  to  beof  greater  importance  than  an  .abundance  of  fish  at  uncertain  or  irregular 
intervals. 

While  the  sardine  ranges  along  the  whole  western  coast  of  the  United  States,  and 
i^  at  times  very  abumlant  even  as  far  north  as  Puget  Sound,  it  is  doubtful  if  in 
Wa.shington  or  Oregon  a  supply  sutticiently  large  and  regular  exists  to  warrant  the 


o*; 


22  H 


m  IXKII.V    OK   TIIK    rNlTEU    8TATK8    FISH    COMMISSION. 


oiitliiy  for  II  cannery.  Hoinu  years  a^'o,  tliu  uHtahlislnnfiit  of  a  factory  for  tlic  utili/.ation 
of  Hiiriliiii's  WHS  (•(iiiti'iiiiiliiti'd  lit  the  moiitli  of  tin-  ('oliiiiiliia,  wlu'ic,  (luring  a  liricf 
period  in  each  year,  sariliin's  may  usually  be  taken  in  alMiiMlaiiee ;  lint  the  sliortnesH 
of  the  suaHon  ilcterreil  the  eonsuiuiiiation  of  tlio|)lan.  It  in  possible  that  within  afuw 
years  the  eamiiiij;  of  sariliiu's  may  be  iimlertakeii  in  eoiinectioii  with  the  jiaekin;;  of 
Kalmoii  at  a  few  placcH  on  the  more  uortherii  parts  of  the  west  coast,  where  there  is  n 
Hhort  run  of  sardines  that  can  bo  ntiii/.ed  without  tlie  necessity  for  exttensivu  special 
niaciiiiieiy.  etc.  This  matter  has  already  received  the  consideration  of  some  salmon 
eaiinei's;  but  III/  ;;eiieral  canning  of  sardines  by  salmon-packers  is  not  anticipatud  so 
]on>;  as  the  supply  of  salmon  lasts. 

Personal  oiiservalion  and  imiuiry,  the  testimony  of  fishermen  and  dealers,  and 
th«  studies  of  iclitliyoli'},'ists  alfoid  ;;iound  lor  the  belief  that  the  Hiiccessfiil  operation 
of  a  sardine  cannery  can  not  bo  expected  any  farther  north  than  8an  Krniuusco,  and 
the  history  of  the  industry  at  Ihat  place  Hcenis  to  indicate  that  the  northern  limit  of 
satisfactory  work  is  even  farther  south.  South  of  Han  I''rancisco  the  prospiscts  of  a 
]>rofltable  business  appear  to  be  in  direct  relation  to  the  latitude;  the  more  southern 
the  location  of  the  cannciy  the  mon^  i-onstaiit  and  abundant  the  supply  of  fisli. 

It  is  probable  that  at  some  plai'cs  on  the  coast,  more  especially  to  the  northward, 
the  conditions  for  the  successful  canning  of  anchovios  are  very  good.  In  a  iiajier  pre- 
sented to  the  World's  Fisheries Oongress  at  Thicago,  entitled  "Notes  on  the  llshcrie.s 
and  lishery  industries  of  I'ngct  .Sound,"*  .Mr,  .fames  (J.  Swan  dev<)t«'s  a  chapter  to 
the  sardine  (r.  ©.,  anchovy)  fishery  of  that  region,  and  mentions  the  advant-iges  which 
the  sound  possesses  for  the  cstublishment  of  a  canning  industry.  Writing  of  the 
anchovy, lu^  says: 

When  taknn  in  Moiitcrpy  or  San  I)Ipk'>  )>oy>*t  >t  is  only  flt  for  bnit;  )iut  in  I'liKct  Simiiil,  which  i;* 
ilMniirthitrii  limit,  it  ix  in  ixTfcctioii,  nnd  isiinr  of  thi^  tattost  nnil  iiiiiNt  ilcliciniiHly  tlitvori'il  of  tho  Hinnll 
llsli,  mill  JH  I'oiifidciTcl  liy  iixiM'its  to  In-  far  Hiiiii'iior,  in  iioint.  of  flavor  anil  rirhncHu,  to  the  lu'st  Mcdi- 
torraii«an  N:iriliiii'.  Soini'  Norwi-^riaii  and  Kiis.tian  li.ihcriiii'n  hero  Itavo  |iut  ihi'in  n|i,  in  liiniti'd  <|imn- 
titit'M,  in  viiii'};ar  and  spii'i',  and  thi'.v  are  di'lirions  and  hcII  rradily;  but  the  men  who  atlemjitod  the 
■  nlerpriNe  are  wilhimt  eapital,  and  there  hai  been  no  one  with  exueutive  ability  to  ]>nHli  the  linxineHa 
forward  to  a  Hureess.  I'he  anehovy  roine  to  I'liijet  Sonnd  in  enormnns  qnantitieH,  and  dnrin|,c  their 
BiMimin,  from  May  to  XovemliBr.  every  bay  and  iidet  is  erowded  with  thoin.  When  thoy  flrHt  eonio 
from  the  oeeaii  they  appear  in  Clallnm  Hay,  on  Kuea  .Strait;  then  in  I'ort  AnjseleH,  UnngenesH,  ami 
.Sei|nin  bays;  then  in  I'ort  DiHcovery,  and  next  in  I'ort  Townsend  and  Scow  bay «,  where  their  inunbers 
are  almoNt  incredible.  I  have  Known  them  to  bo  in  such  inrissesat  I'ort  Kadlock,  at  the  head  of  I'ort 
TowiLtend  Hay,  that  they  could  be  dippeil  up  with  a  couiuion  water  bucket,  but  a.s  there  halt  been  no 
deiuaud  for  them  flic  fishermen  do  not  consider  t  heiu  of  value,  and  when  haulin;j;  their  nets  for  smelt 
the.v  fteuerally  let  the  anchovy  esciipo.  The  anchovy  differ  from  herrin;^  in  one  respect— th.!  herring', 
when  they  visit  the  bays,  keep  inshore  and  are  easily  .eanjiht  in  seines  and  landed  on  the  beach; 
anchovies,  on  the  contrary,  keep  out  in  deep  water  ,'ind  seldom  apjironch  the  shore,  so  that  drn^  seiiicii 
are  of  no  use  to  capture  them.  They  can  be  best  taken  with  purse  seines,  as  mackerel  aro  taken  in 
the  .Vtlantie.  Ah  these  fish  aro  small,  not  much  over  (i  or  7  inches  in  length,  they  require  a  net  with  a 
small  uiosh,  nnd  with  suitable  gear  an  euormuiis  quantity  «nn  be  Recnred. 

S<irilinc  viiiitiinii  <tt  San  Fraiicixco. — In  .Tune,  1SS!>,  ;i  canning  factory  was  estab- 
lished in  Sun  Francisco,  which  continued  in  oiicratioii  until  August,  18!W.  During  the 
five  years  in  wliich  the  cannery  was  run  the  yearly  pack  was  from  5,000  to  1,5,000  cases. 

The  canned  fish  consisted  chiefiy  of  anchovies  in  oil  in  quarter  pound  cans  and 
large  sardinoi.  in  1-pound  and  -'pound  round  cans.  Tiie  fish  consumed  at  the  factory 
were  caught  in  San  Francisco  Bay  with  haul  seines.     In  the  earlier  years  sardines 


small  on 
years  of 
be  had. 

Sun 

laiiiicry 

licr.  I.HO.'l 

is  a  |iai'l 

the  conil 

lull  kiiov 

relating 

Fi.shi 

motive  pi 

is  pi'odiic 

i-^  sloop-ri 

(or  fish. 

The 

for  inackf 

tender  foi 

•icep,  and 

Tlie  I 

Iteacli,  an 

lisli  are  th 

A  fter 

means  of  i 

deck  by  in 

iiinnery  a 


•  Bulletin  U.  S.  Fish  Commission  1893,  article -12,  pp.  371-380. 


NOTK8  ON   THE    FlftllKHIKR   OK   THE    PACIFIC   COART. 


229 


tilization 
H  a  liiief 
sliortiu'SM 
hill  a  tV'>v 
arkinjj;  of 
tlicic  is  n 
,!•  spocial 

0  salmon- 
•iimteil  80 

alers,  and 
operation 
«ris('o,  and 
•n  limit  of 
ipccts  of  a 
1-  southern 
Ish. 

lorthward, 
pai)er  pre- 
lim llshories: 
chapter  to 
iges  which 
ing  of  the 

111(1,  wliich  is 

1  of  the  NiiiiiU 
lie  bi<Ht  Mi'di- 
iimitcd  (|iiaii- 
.tUtiiipted  the 
I  tho  liiisiiicM 

ilnriii){  tlifir 
ley  t'lrst  ooiiio 
iiiigcuoss,  anil 
their  iiiiinbiTS 
1  head  "f  Tort 

0  liiiH  l><'<'ii  no 
nets  i'oi'  Ntni'lt 
— thJ  lierriiitf, 
on  the  lieiu'h; 
Hit  drag  Hi<iiii'» 

1  iiro  takeu  in 
re  a  net  with  a 

V  was  estab- 
During  the 
irj,(M)0  cases. 
ndcans  and 
t  the  factory 
ears  sardines 


small  onoiij^li  for  use  in  quarter-ptMiiid  eaiiH  were  obtained,  hut  durin(f  the  last  two 
years  of  the  cannery's  existence  no  sardines  of  size  suitable  for  "  qiiai  ler  oils  "  c«>ul(l 
he  had.    This  was  the  chief  reason  for  (•iosinj;  the  woiUs. 

Siinliiii;  JiMliiiu)  kidI  canniiifi  at  Sun  I'cdro. — In  .lime  I  made  a  visit  to  a  sardine 
lanneryatHan  Pedro,  in  l.os  Anpelest'onnty,  which  iiad  been  estaiiiished  in  Decem- 
ber. I'Htt.'t,  and  is  now  tiie  only  cannery  of  tlie  kind  on  the  west  coast.  HiirdinecanniiiK 
is  a  part  of  the  business  of  the  California  I'ish  Company,  of  l,os  Angeles.  Through 
the  couitesy  of  the  olUceisof  the  cmnpany  I  was  enabled  to  inspect  the  factory,  obtain 
lull  knowledge  regarding  the  metho<ls  pursued,  and  gain  inncli  valuable  information 
relating  to  the  tishery  carried  on  lor  siippl.ving  the  raw  material  to  the  eannl'iy. 

l-'ishing  for  the  San  Pedro  cannery  is  carried  on  by  a  vessel  of  22  tons'  burden,  the 
motive  jiower  of  which  is  t'uinished  by  gasoline.  The  engine  has  I'l  hors(«  )iower,  which 
is  jirodiiccd  by  X\\v  hourly  consumption  of  one  dollar's  Morth  of  gasoliiu*.  The  vessel 
i-^  sloop-rigged,  and  when  (Ui  the  fishing  grounds  jogs  along  under  sail  while  looking 
Ibr  tisli.     Its  value  is  ijt.j.tMM).     Seven  naui  cimslitute  the  crew,  including  a  cook. 

The  \ess«'l  carries  two  purse  seines,  one  of  which  is  used  for  sardines,  the  other 
till'  mackt>rel;  it  is  by  this  apparatus  that  all  the  Itsh  arc  taken.  A  seine  boat  and  a 
teinler  form  a  part  of  the  e(pii[)ment.  The  sardine  seine  is  PJO  fathoms  long,  50  feet 
deep,  and  has  a  I  inch  (stretch)  mesh;  its  value  is  about  8'<<M). 

The  lishing  grounds  resorted  to  by  the  vessel  are  San  Pedro  Hay,  ofl"  Kedondo 
Hcach,  and  around  the  Catalina  Islands.  The  last  named  are  the  best  grounds,  and 
lish  are  there  often  found  in  large  (|uaiitities  close  insluuc  in  sheltered  jdaces. 

After  the  sardines  are  jmrsed  up  in  the  seine  they  are  bailed  into  the  vessel  by 
means  of  a  hand  windlass.  They  are  not  diimited  in  tlie  hold,  but  are  retained  on 
deck  by  means  of  a  gunwale  12  to  1(»  inches  bigli.  Pending  their  discharge  at  the 
ciiniiery  a  little  salt  is  spn-ad  over  them. 

The  lay  on  tlu:  vessel  is  as  follows:  The  owners  furnish  provisions,  fuel,  ajijiaratus, 
ot(!.,  and  meet  all  running  expenses,  and  jiay  1  cent  a  itound  for  the  lish  delivered 
at  the  cannery.  The  cai)taiii  and  cook  are  jtaid  salaries  (d"  $20  and  $!.">  per  month, 
respectively,  and  tlie  value  of  the  fish  is  divided  among  the  entire  crew.  The  \essel, 
however,  draws  half  the  share,  so  that  the  iirice  actually  paid  for  the  fish  is  one-half 
(!ent  a  pound.     In  Jlay,  1894,  the  crew  shared  about  1*75  each. 

In  this  region  sardines  are  found  throughout  tlie  year.  They  "show"  at  t)ie  sur- 
face at  times,  and  thus  permit  the  use  of  the  purse  seine.  They  sometimes  go  in 
iiiunense  schools.  Single  hauls  of  several  tons  are  often  made,  and  10  tons  have  on 
several  occasions  been  taken  at  a  single  set  of  the  seine,  siudi  a  eat^di  being  obtained 
aiiont  Mayl,  1H94.  In  December,  I'.fKf,  several  very  large  bodies  of  sardines  were 
(ibserved,  and  a  laud  of  10  tons  of  small-sized  fish  was  taken.  From  January  to  .liine 
the  fish  appear  to  gradually  increase  in  numbers.  Some  schools  are  made  up  of 
lish  of  uniform  size,  while  in  others  they  are  mixed.  The  smallest  fish  caught  are  4 
inches  long,  the  largest  12  inches,  the  average  7  inches. 

Thecondition  of  the  fish  as  regards  fatness  varies  considerably  with  the  season. 
Mr.  J.  II.  Laphain,  the  president  of  the  fish  company  ojierating  the  cannery,  states 
that  in  December,  1803,  when  the  canning  began,  the  smaller  fish  were  jioor  while  the 
1  irger  ones  were  fat.  In  January  and  February  the  comlitions  were  about  the  same. 
li!  March  the  smaller  fish  began  to  improve,  continued  to  grow  fatter  through  Ajtril 
;iiid  May,  and  in  June  sardines  in  excellent  condition  suitaldefor  ''quarters  oils"  were 
t.ikeii.    In  May,  4  or  .j  tons  of  largo  lish  tiiat  were  very  poor  were  .seined  on  one  occa- 


liULLKTIN    OK   THE    rNITKIi    HTATKH    KISIl    C0MMI8HI0X. 


Hioii.  Tlio  fartory  ii«  iimli'i  tlit*  Hii|MTiiitiMi<li'iire  of  an  «>xpcrieiico<l  llit)>caiiiK'r  rroiii 
MiiiiK*.  It  is  a  lari;'*  twii  Htory  Htnictiiif.  with  a  Hallikit;  Ihiiikv  atta(!lM-«'i.  Tlit*  plant 
is  worth  aliont  Alo.tHii). 

'rill-  principal  proccsHCM  to  whii'h  fln»  nardint's  art-  Hiihjcctetl  l»<'for«  4'ni(M'(;inK  aH 
tilt-  lanncti  pnuliift  iii*'  iih  t'lillowH:  Wlicii  tlir  IIhIi  art*  iiiiloailiMl  froni  tli't  vessel  tliey 
iuc  rt'i-fivctl  into  a  lar^f,  airy  room,  wIhmo  tlio  rutting  and  washing  art-  iIoiih,  and  tli«Mi 
ti'ansrfi'i'cd  to  tli«f  st-cond  tloor  lis  means  ot' an  i-l*'Viilor.  Tln-re  tiiey  arc  next  anantfcd 
on  latticed  (rays  (.'I'J  jidies  Ki|nare)  and  dried.  If  the  wcatlicr  is  lair  and  the  atinos 
pheru  dry  tlii^  drying  is  donu  in  the  open  uir.  occnpyin^.  as  a  rale,  aliont  two  and  a  half 
Iioiirn.  On  rainy  dayn,  ur  wiieii  the  air  is  especially  liiiinid,  dryinj;  is  accomplished 
hmidethe  hidldin^  hy  means  of  steain,  wliicli  rei|Uiie.s  aliont  ten  li<iiirs. 

After  drying  tli«  tisli  arc  jilaced  in  wire  baskets  (!."_•  in<'lics  Ioiik,  l.S  inc.liOH  wide, 
>)  iiich«>s  dee)i|  and  immersed  in  boiling  oil  tor  two  to  six  minutes,  dep(>ndinK:  on  their 
Hi/e.  The  oil  is  contained  In  a  shallow  sink,  into  which  tlic  wire  baskets  lit  and  are 
lowere()  and  raised  li\  meins  of  htujs  wire  handles.  The  boiling;  of  tlic  oil  is  done  liy 
means  ol  a  steam  |iipe  enteriii;;  at  the  side  and  rnnninp  under  the  sink.  After  drain- 
in>;  and  thnronKhly  codling;  the  tish  jUt  t<i  the  |ia<kers.  tlu'iicc  to  the  HcalerH,  thent"  to 
the  bathmen,  and,  alter  cooling  and  testing'  for  leaks,  to  the  hoxin);  room. 

The  cutting  of  the  llsh  is  done  by  men  and  f;iiN,  the  aveia^^e  number  of  whom 
emiiloyed  is  li.'i.  They  irc  paid  by  the  basket  oi'  the  bucket  of  cut  tish, and  by  working 
Hteadily  earn  about  Jo  cents  nn  hour.  The  Hakers  number  IJ  to  It,  nnd  are  the  same 
pirls  who  pack  the  tish  in  tlie  cans.  Ten  men  act  as  seahrs  and  ean-inakerH.  and 
10  others  are  employetl  in  the  remaiiiin>f  bianclics  of  the  work. 

The  sizes  and  jjrade.**  of  canned  sardines  placed  on  the  market  from  this  cannery, 
nnd  the  wliolcsale  jirii-es  received,  are  as  follows:  (Quarter  oils,  100  cans  to  iv  case, 
ijni.."iO  t<i  i!<H..">0  per  ease,  accordinj;  to  the  <(uality  of  the  oil;  half  tills,  ."iO  cans  in  a  case, 
$5.(i()  per  ease;  2-ik)UihI  ovii!  cans,  witli  mustuni,  spices,  and  tomato  miuce,  ij>'_'.2o  jier 
dozen  cans. 

BARRACUDA. 

OiH^  of  the  most  u.seful  anil  valuable  footl  fishes  of  t he  C'alifoniia  coast  is  the  bar- 
racuda (Spln/rinni  artjinii^),  Xtit  only  is  it  a  favorite  article  of  food  wlien  eaten  in  a 
fresh  condititin,  but  it  is  one  tif  the  best  tish  ftir  saltiiif;  lountl  tin  the  west  coast.  The 
normal  laiiffc  of  the  tish  on  tlu-  coast  of  the  I'nited  States  is  frtim  San  Francisco  to 
the  Mexican  bonh'r.  It  is,  however,  not  lurenerally  abuiuhmt  north  of  .Monterey,  and 
it  is  a  noteworthy  feature  in  the  fisheries  of  tinly  Santa  !5:Mbara,  Los  Angeles,  and 
San  l>iet;t>  counties,  in  which  over  uii  eteen  twentieths  of  tlie  catch  is  taken. 

There  is  an  active  demand  for  fresh  barracuda  in  the  markets  of  California,  and 
ill  San  Franciscti  it  ranks  as  one  of  the  <'hoicest  (ishes. 

The  annual  catch  is  between  000,000  and  700,0110  pounds,  of  which  over  lOO.OOil 
pounds  are  salted,  The  fresh  fish  yield  the  lisherman  3  to  ."i  cents  a  i>ound  and  the 
salt  llsh  brinji  A  to  1  cents  a  pound.  The  averajfe  wholesale  jirice  t)f  the  fresh  fish  in 
San  Franciscti  is  7  or  8  cents  a  pound,  tir  tw»i  or  three  times  that  of  chinook  salmon. 

When  properly  saltetl  the  barracuda  presents  a  very  inviting  apjiearance,  and  is 
justly  rejfanied  as  tjiie  t>f  the  most  jialatable  of  fishes  that  are  jireserved  in  this  way. 
It  shtinhl  be,  and  {generally  is.  split  down  the  belly  like  cotllish.  The  .silvery  color  nf 
the  skin  is  more  or  less  persistent  in  salt,  and  the  flesh  retaiiii'  i*  'tirnctive  white 
character.     The  larjtest  (puintities  are  salted  in  San  Dieyti  C.)ui!  /. 

In  the  spring  of  lJS'.t3  a  ainyular  phenomcutiu  attended  thfj  UiJiHaMiice  of  the  bar- 


NOTEB   OX    THE    I'lSIIF.RIKS    Ol'    THK    PACIFIC    COAST. 


281 


iicr  IVoin 
III*  pliiiit 

>y\ih\K  m 
«s»'l  lliey 
aiitl  tluMi 
iirnmut'"' 
ii-  iitiims 
ihI  a  liiilf 
inpliHlH'd 

ilicH  witic, 
:  on  tlu'ir 
t  iiiitl  iin' 
H  (lono  by 
'ter  tliaiii- 

tllC'Iltf  to 

r  of  whom 
y  working 
ft  lie  name 
ikeiH.  iUiil 

8  cauiieiy, 
to  a  vi\M, 
i  in  a  ease, 
,  :!i'J.25  per 


is  the  bar- 
eaten  in  II 
oast.  The 
liiiicisco  to 
terey,  ami 
iifjeles,  and 
•n. 
foriiia,  and 

iver  100.001) 
ml  and  the 
IVcsh  lisli  ill 
ok  salmon, 
nice,  and  is 
in  this  way. 
ery  color  of 
[letive  white 

f  nf  the  bar- 


larudu  on  the  coaHt  of  hos  Anwles  (louiity.     It  is  tints  desrrilM'd  in  a  letter  t<i  the 
I'ish  Commission  from  Mr,  .loh.i  L.  (irilliii,  of  Los  Angeles,  dated  Mareli  :.',  1801: 

llurriii'iiilik  put  ill  iiii  iippi-Hiiiiiri'  umt  iiiniitli  I'lirliur  tliini  i'vit  IkiI'iiii',  'I'Iii'.v  i  itiiii'  in  iniiiii'iina 
i{Uiiiititii'H  imii  Hiiiiii'lliiim  liiippi'iiril  til  tlinii.  riiiiiiKiiiiilN  riiiiii' iihIiiiiii  ilnul,  uliili'  tint  wiitiu' wiin  full 
III  IIhIi  tliiit  Ki'fiiiril  )Iii/imI,  HwliiiiiiiiiK  aliiiiit  wllli  llii'ii'  lu<ail.'<  mil  ol'  wiilcr.  Aiiiniiu  llii'Ui  wi'io  noniii 
liiililiut,  yi-lliiwI'iilN,  Mini  ''>iii»  iitlii'i'  lUli,  liiit  lliov  wrir  priinipiillv  lunrurihlit.  All  kiinlit  of  tlii'orli-i 
liiivi'  lici'ii  inlvuiiri'il;  iiiii'  ilml  llnln'l'liii'li  liinl  iihi'iI  ilyuiiuiito  IiiiiiiIih;  lonitln'r  lliiit  It  >vii8  I'lliim-il  \>\  vii|. 
<  aiiir  iliHtiii'lianri'Fi  I'nini  tlio  liiittiiiii ;  ainilhrr  tliiit  tin'  DnIi  oiiiiiIiik  I'i'umi  f  rnpiial  wnti'iH  Ih'ciiiiio  ohlllril ; 
tlii'll  ainitliiT,  wliii'li  tin'  in-wspapcrt  ]iiit  Int'tli  niiirli  to  tln<  ilisailviiilaKi'  nf  llMlii'riin'li  iiliil  tliili-ili'ali'l't, 
lliat  It  NviiH  iliHoaMf,  ami   tlicro  liaii  lici'ii  a  Kr*'"*  fallniK  <>'l   nil  nHtiuiplioii  of  tihli  iii  i'iiiiiit>i|iii-in'i<. 

The  most  plan-'ilileexiiianiitiiiiiiil'tlie  piienomenoii  w,  ■  lat  thermvas  an  iimistially 
active  ernption  of  tiie  snlimarine  oil  springs  oil'  this  ci.  ist,  and  that  the  IIhIi  were 
iispliyxiated  by  having  their  gills  coated  with  the  oM 

MACKEREL  AND  MACKEREL  CANNING. 

'•   '■  'iinection  with  the  (•aptiiie  and  canninjj  of  sardiiie.H  at  Han  Pcdi'o,  a  spocieB 
of  cariingoiil  lisli  [TnicliKniH  i>irtiiiiiti(s)  is  taken  and   iiibzed  id  some  extent  for  can 
iiing  and  Halting.    At  San  I'edro  it  is  known  as  "i^paiiNh  mackerel ";  at  other  places 
(III  the  coast  it  is  calleil  "horse  mackerel."     Dr.  Jordan  remarks  of  this  IIdIi: 

It  rnii|;('H  friuii  Monturt'.v  Koutlnvanl  to  Cliili',  appearing  in  ('alilnriiiu  in  tlin  Hinuiiier,  niiiiiiiiiliiK  in 
llni  hpawiiiiiK  HraKiiii,  ami  ili'iappcariiic  liofom  IiimtuiIii'I'.  It  ariivi'N  at  ^^allta  llarliarit  in  .!:i!,t  anil  at 
M(iiit«>rf\  in  August.  In  lain  Kiiiiiiiii'r  it  ih  cMi'dliiiHly  al>iinilaiit.  !t  foniiH  part  of  llio  food  of  largur 
ti->ln'8,  anil  );iral  iiiiinlii'rH  am  Halted  fur  lia.t.  Ah  a  fnod-liNli  it  Ih  held  in  low  i>.sti'i'ni,  lint  whrtln'r  tliiN  im 
ilin'jMiliii'ly  til  ilHsiinillhi/i'  wnln  unl  Unnw.     It  Ih  iili'iitinil  witli  lln>  wi'll-Umnvn  .Mi'diti'rriiin'an  N|ii'(ii'M. 

At  Han  Pcilro  these  Hsh  arc  taken  in  the  sniiiil  sham  ves.sel  used  lor  sanline 
lishing.  A  upecial  iiurse  seine,  ].'!.'>  fathoniH  long  and  100  feet  deep,  with  a  2-inch 
iiicsli,  is  useil.  The  tisli  are  caught  in  San  I'edro  Hay  and  around  the  (Jatalina  Islands. 
Tiiey  go  in  schools  of  varying  sizes.  Some  large  hauls  art*  made;  thus,  in  the  fall  of 
ISil.'i,  loO  barrels  were  taken  at  one  set  near  the  (Jatalina  Islands. 

The  (Ish  caught  are  mostly  of  small  size.  According  to  the  statements  of  the  gen- 
tlemen connecteil  with  the  <'aliforiiia  Fish  Company,  the  largest  ttiken  in  their  seine 
lire  12  or  14  inches  long,  the  smallest  are  about  (i  inches,  ami  the  average  length  is 
iihont  0  inches.  The  smallest  lisli  are  ]iacked  in  oil  in  half  potiml  si|ii!ii'e  cans  anil  iu 
iiiiistard,  tomato  sauce,  ami  souse  in  2pouiid  oval  cans.  Tiie  lisli  too  large  for  can- 
ning are  salteil.    They  are  never  fat,  however,  and  do  not  make  a  high  grade  of  salt  llsli. 

Another  species  of  niiickerel.  the  chub  or  bull's  eye  mackerel  {iScombir  coUuh), 
occurs  at  San  I'edro  and  is  utilized  to  a  small  extent  for  canning  and  salting,  as  well  as 
licing  sold  fresh.  It  is  there  called  the  "steelhead  nnickerel."  The  head  is  said  by  the 
lisiierinen  to  be  v^n•y  hard,  and  in  sjiiitting  the  fish  for  salting  an  extra  cut  of  the  knife  is 
1  iipiired  to  divide  the  head.  The  lisli  is  also  sometimes  designated  as  the  "  horse  mack- 
trel"  in  Los  Angeles  County.  It  reaches  a  weight  of  .'J  or  4  pounds,  but  its  average 
weight  is  only  -.  The  flavor  and  coarseness  of  tliti  Hesh  of  this  lisli  make  it  unde- 
siiable  for  canning.  I'p  to  the  present  time,  no  first  class  salt  lisli  of  tliisspecies  have 
Imcii  preiiared.  The  lack  of  oil  in  the  llt»sh  ami  tht>  fyndentiy  of  the  latter  to  assume  a 
dirk  color  are  serious  drawbacks  to  the  patrkingof  an  acceptable  salt  mackerel. 

In  the  San  Francisco  mi  kct  this  lisli  is  known  as  "  mackerel,''  and  ranks  as  a 
liistclass  food-tish.  The  supply  is  limiteil,  and  comes  entirely  from  the  southern  jiart 
"I  the  State.  During  the  early  jiart  of  .June  a  few  boxes  of  tli:  se  Hsh  were  received 
liy  San  Francisco  dealers,  but  the  bulk  of  the  receipts  comes  lat<;r.  The  lish  examined 
'.vi'ie  of  uniform  size,  having  a  length  of  about  10  inches. 


232 


nULLETIN  OB'   THE   UNITED   STATES   FISH   COMMISSION. 


THE  SALMON  INDUSTRY. 


CALIFOUNIA. 

(hhcral  imjxirtitnvc. — Salmon  arc?  th«  iiio.st  iiiipoitaiit  (isli  of  California,  and  their 
caiiturc  ami  utilization  constifnte  one  of  tiie  most  jjiominent  indnstrit's  of  the  State. 
Anioiif;  all  l!ie  lisliery  ]n<Klucts  of  the  State,  salmon  art;  surpassed  in  value  oidy  by 
oysters,  whales,  an<l  slirimi)s.  All  the  species  of  salmon  found  on  the  west  coa.st 
oeeur  in  tlie  waters  of  tlie  Stale  in  tiie  jjroper  seasons,  but  tiie  most  abundant,  fjP"- 
erally  distributed,  and  imjuntant  is  tlie  ehinooic  or  quiiinat  salmon  (Onvorhynvhux 
choiiivha).  VVIiile  considerable  quantities  of  salmon  are  taken  each  year  in  Kel  liiver 
in  Ilnndxdilt  ("onnly,  and  in  Smith  and  Klamath  rivers  in  Del  Norte  County,  the 
fishinj;  t?ronnds  which  give  to  the  salmon  lishery  the  i)rominence  it  has  attained  are 
the  Sacramento  IJivcr,  and  Snisnn,  San  I'ablo,  and  San  I'>anciseo  bays;  of  these  the 
inincipal  ground  is  the  Sacramento  IJiver  in  Contra  Costa  and  Solano  counties. 

Sulmon  in  the  Siionmeuto  Kirer. — Tlie  salmon  taken  in  the  important  flsheriesof 
the  lower  Sacramento  Hixt-r  are  either  sliipi)ed  fresh  to  market  or  are  sold  to  the 
eanneries  located  at  IJenicia,  Hlack  Diamond,  and  Cliipps  Island.  In  the  (jnantity 
and  value  of  the  salmon  output,  the  Sacramento  ranks  next  to  the  Columbia  among 
the  rivers  of  this  coast. 

The  spring  run  of  chinook  salmon  in  this  stream  usually  begins  about  the  middle 
of  April  and  continues  until  tlie  middle  of  May,  In  1.S94,  however,  the  run  began 
earlier  and  kept  up  longer  than  usual;  fish  were  landed  at  the  eanneries  on  April  4, 
and  the  supply  lasted  into  June.  As  late  .as  Mayl'.S  the  run  was  very  large,  over  1,0.")0 
salmon  being  received  at  one  cannery  on  that  date  as  a  result  of  only  half  a  day's 
lishiiig.  At  the  beginning  of  the  season  the  run  was  light,  and  it  was  predicted  that 
the  catch  woidd  be  smaller  than  last  year,  but  afterwards  the  supply  increased,  and 
the  close  of  tlie  season  witnessed  a  larger  production  than  for  five  years. 

The  weekly  close  season  from  Saturday  noon  to  Sunday  midnight  is  generally 
observed  and  vigorously  enforced,  and  is,  without  doubt,  one  of  the  most  beneficial 
regulations  affecting  the  fisheries  of  the  State.  The  conccntr.ition  of  the  fisheries  in 
the  proximity  of  the  (-inneries  i)ermits  a  very  large  proportion  of  the  fish  that  ascend 
the  river  on  Saturday  and  Sunday  to  escape  capture  aud  molestation  and  to  reach  the 
headwaters  of  the  Sacramento  or  its  tributaries. 

There  seems  no  evidence  of  any  improvement  in  the  salmon  fishery  of  the  San 
Joa([uiii  Itiver.  The  physicral  conditions  appear  very  unfavorable  and  distasteful  to 
the  migrating  salmon.  According  to  the  reports  of  fishermen  and  members  of  tlie 
California  Fish  Commission,  nearly  all  the  fish  which  begin  the  ascent  of  the  San 
Joaquin  are  diverted  when  they  rea<  h  the  Georgiana  Shnigii.  the  uppermost  path  of 
communication  between  the  waters  of  the  Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin  rivers.  They 
enter  the  slough  and  jtass  into  the  Sacramento,  and  seem  to  be  attracted  by  the  much 
cooler  and  muddier  waters  of  that  stueani.  This  is  in  marked  contrast  with  the 
behavi»)r  of  the  striped  bass  in  the  same  waters. 

In  a  subsequent  chapter  the  (|uantities  of  salmon  shiitped  to  San  Francisco  dealers 
from  the  Sacramento  Hiver  in  l.SiCJ  and  l.S!)4  are  sliown.  The  foHowing  table  gives  the 
number  of  jioundsof  fish  utili/.ed  at  the  canneries.  It  appears  that  the  2  canneries 
in  ()i)eration  in  IH'M  received  rii',\,0H2  more  pounds  of  salmon  than  the  .'}  canneries 
did  in  1S!);$,  and  that  the  increase  over  the  receipts  of  the  same  2  canneries  wms 
Ij'JOSj.WlJ  pounds. 


with  i)ii 
salmon 
l)cr8  to ' 
was  esta 
capture 
made  to 
Santa  C 
and  hooi 
The 
Some 
iMinnds 
took  ovc 
The 
tril)Uted 
iSiO: 


eiitirflv 

Jifcsi'iits  III 

•hmI  oxliilii 
1'  Ibri'. 


NOTES   ON   THE    FISHERIES   OF   THE   PACIFIC   COAST.  233 

Slalement  of  /.^«  number  of  pounUi  ofaalmoti  iiHUtedfor  caiiiiiiid  on  the  SiicmmfiiUi  li'inr  in  1S:)S  and  JS!)4. 


i\\n\  their 
lu-  state. 

0  only  ljy 
■est  coast 
laut,  sen- 
orhynclius 
Eel  liiver 
unity,  the 
aiued  ai'« 
these  the 

ties. 

ftsheries  of 
old  to  the 
e  (luantity 
bia  among 

the  middle 
run  began 
on  April  4, 
!,ovcrl,0-">0 
lalf  a  day's 
'dieted  that 
reased,  and 

is  generally 
it  bonelicial 
fisheries  in 
that  ascend 
to  reacth  the 

of  the  San 
istasteful  to 
libers  of  the 

1  of  the  San 
most  i^ath  of 
ivers.  They 
by  the  much 
ist  with  the 

isco  dealers 
ihle,  gives  the 
2  canneries 
;?  canneries 
.iniieries  was 


Spring. 

LocHtloD  of  cniincrleii. 

1893.      1     1894. 
1 

F.U.                              To'ul. 

1893.             1884.              1803.       |       1894. 

BenlrlB   '    147.442'    297,880 

niiick  Diiminnd 202,.'i<Mi   

Cliip[i»  NIaiid i:i8.l25      573,300 

03,200'        :iSS.300          210,642          a.n3. 189 
.1211, 000        812, 500    

3.-l5,fl60  '         713,520           473,  TR".        1,280.(120 

■1,,,1 57S.C07      871.180 

018.800       1,008,820       1,496,027  j     1,940, 009 

The  salmon  i)ack  of  the  Sacramento  l{iver,  as  shown  in  the  following  table,  was 
23,.'{30  cases  in  I'^iKi  and  28,4(>.S  cases  in  18!t4.  The  increase  in  the  output  of  the  two 
canneries  that  w^re  in  operation  both  years  was  17,027  cast's. 

Slulemnit  of  the  number  of  ca»e»  of  salmon  paeked  on  Ike  Sacramento  /tirer  in  ISOS  and  1894. 


Ixtcatinn  of  CAnneri«s. 

Spring. 

Fall, 

ToUl.             j 

1803. 

1894. 

1893. 

18»«. 

IMS. 

1804. 

Bi>it(rin          

2. 204 
4. 500 
2  I2;. 

4,668 

1.2R3 
8.000 
5.164 

6,175 
""«,80b' 

3,547 

i3.500 

7.289 

9,843 

('llill|IH  Irtlniicl 

8,820 

18.620 

8,919 

13,488 

14,417 

14.97, 

23, 836        2M.  4(13  1 

1 

Salmon  trolling  in  Monteir;/  Bay. — For  many  years  the  liandlino  flahennen  of 
Monterey  Hay.  who  setk  cnltiis  cod,  boiiito,  rock  cod,  etc.,  have  from  time  to  time  had 
their  hooks  carried  away  by  fish,  .sometimes  8up|;o.Hed  to  be  large  bonito,  which  their 
lines  were  not  strong  enough  to  retain.  Some  years  ago,  when  a  largo  body  of  small 
mackerel  suddenly  appeared  in  the  bay  and  were  taken  with  hand  lines,  the  fl.shermen, 
when  hauling  in  the  fish,  would  often  Iiave  them  seized  by  other  fish  «nd  taken  off, 
with  parts  of  tht;  line.  Occasionally  a  salmon  was  caught,  but  it  was  not  known  that 
salmon  would  regularly  take  the  lirxik  or  that  they  occurred  there  in  suHicient  iiiun- 
bcrs  to  warrant  a  special  attempt  to  obtain  them.  In  18!>3,  however,  a  troll-line  fishery 
was  established  there  by  anglers  which  reached  large  proportions  and  resulted  in  the 
capture  of  a  great  many  salmon.  It  was  the  first  year  that  any  ibrinal  attempt  was 
made  to  take  the  fish  in  that  way  or  place.  The  fishing  was  done  principally  from 
Santa  Cruz  and  Capitola.  It  was  carried  on  from  sail  and  row  boats,  with  stout  lines 
and  hooks.,  attached  to  fly  rods  or  simjily  lislied  by  hand.     Sardines  wero  used  for  bait. 

The  salmon  were  found  in  the  bay  fnmi  early  in  .luiie  to  about  Septtinber  1. 
Some  vei ,  large  catches  were  made.  Mr.  (l.  M.  Ord,  of  Soiinel,  Cal.,  took  1,!K)0 
IMiunds  in  tour  days,  using  a  nine-ounce  tly  rod,  with  sardines  as  bait.  Another  man 
took  ovc    S^.WO  pounds  during  a  lirief  visit  to  the  bay. 

The  following  interesting  account  of  this  fishery  is  extracted  from  an  article  con- 
tril>uted  by  Mr.  J.  Parker  Whitney  to  the  issue  of  "Forest  and  Sti-'am  "  for  .July  29, 
1S!)3 : 

8AI.MON   FI.SIllNii    WITH    KISU    I1.V1T. 

'I  liis  iH  a  compnrativoly  nevr  metlioil  of  fiHliiii);,  and  one  which  Halinou  fishoriiicii  aro  nlnioHt 
ciitirrly  ignorant  of.  To  thoHe  interPHted  in  tho  tciiij;  of  fmhcH,  tlie  Halnion,  the  liurlior  of  Monterey 
)ircsi'iitB  an  o/ii>ortnuity  of  ]ic?ulinr  interest.  Uerv  the  Halinon  in  found  in  pnrHnit  of  its  natural  food, 
iiiiil  i;xhihitin<;  many  foatureti  wliieh  >;ive  an  in»ijjlit  into  the  wayM  whicli  liavo  IxM-n  ho  niVHterious 
b'.'t'oro.    AluioHt  yearly  tho  Halinou  come  into  the  hay  of  Monterey,  as  well  an  that  of  Sauta  Cruz  and 


234 


BULLETIN  OF  THE   UNITED   .STATES   FISH   COMMISSION. 


a  tow  othisr  plnoes  on  the  coaxt,  wlu;.'e  thoy  BometimcH  reniiiin  lor  nioiitliK,  iiiiil  purine  tboir  feeding 
UK  ntlicr  IihIi  iln,  iiikI  wIkmc  tliry  arc  ri'iiilily  raiiKlit  witli  fri-Hli-liHli  Imit.  1  have  hitely  had  thr  ({real 
liliiiiMuro  iif  takiiiK  a  ^^^w  .score,  and  lor  llio  houei.t  of  Ihosi'  w  ho,  like  niysell',  have  heen  iu  tlie  lialiit  of 
takinjx  llicac  niild<^  li«li  witli  the  lly,  I  will  fjivo  tho  resnlt  of  my  exiirricncc. 

Wlii-u  the  Halnion  strike  in  aliout  the  hay,  and  generally  near  the  shore,  which  occurs  here 
uhoiit  I  he  lllth  of . I  line,  thiy  do  ho  in  tlie  |>urHiiit  of  Hipiid,  sardines.  anchovicH,  NUieltx,  and  other  Hinall 
tUh,  and  their  iiresence  ih  tiiHt  indicated  to  the  liAheriiien  hy  the  occaNional  dixtiirhnDCC  of  the  Hiirfaee 
water  hy  the  Hiiiiill  lish  in  their  ellbrts  to  eneaiie.  Tliif  is  a  niHiiiil  for  the  Italians,  rortiigiicse,  and 
other  market  tishernien  to  no  out  for  Ihiiii.  which  they  do  in  hoth  nail  and  row  hoats.  'These  nien  all 
tish  for  the  iiuirket  and  waste  no  time  iu  seiitiinent.  They  are  ei|ni|i|ied  with  stout  cotton  lines 
Hiitheieiitly  strong  to  |iiill  in  salmon  hand  over  hand.  A  stout  sea  hook  is  ii.sed,  with  a  sinker  weighing 
lialf  a  pound.  The  line  is  alioiit  li(H)  feet  in  lenjitli,  the  sinker  is  attached  a  short  distance  ahovo  tlio 
hook,  and  the  line  is  paid  out  ahout  1(K)  lect  from  the  hoat,  and  in  the  slow  sailing  or  rowing, 
whicli  is  alioiit  the  same  speed  as  followed  in  trolling  for  trout,  the  liait  sinks  down  'JO-odd  feet.  Tho 
sariline  or  siiiall  lisli,  if  not  too  large,  or  over  it  ini'hcs  in  length,  is  jtiit  on  whole,  otherwise  it  is  cut 
diaginially,  making  two  liaits. 

The  salinon  seizes  the  halt  and  hook  and  is  piUed  in  alongside  the  lioat  without  ccri'iiiony, 
where  it  is  either  yanked  in  or  gati'ed.  I'lilly  hall  the  salmon  luioked  are  lost  hy  the  careless 
manner  of  liandling,  and  ahoiit  two  halts  are  stri)>ped  to  a  salmon  hooked,  .\hont  once  in  twenty  or 
thirty  times  two  falniou  are  hroiight  in  at  one  time.  I  have  reason  to  helieve  that  at  times  when 
nalnion  llrst-conin  in,  and  in  schools,  that  tlie  fishermen  catch  doiihlets  often  in  siiccessiou. 

My  II  1st  exptriciice  was  in  going  out  with  two  lishermen  iu  their  hoat  and  in  witnessing  their 
method.  The  hoat  1  was  in  secured  three  Kalinon  hy  the  hand  lines;  the  other  Imats  did  hetter.  .some 
taking  as  high  as  eight  or  ten;  aliout  a  hundred  salinou  were  taken  hy  the  tifteen  hoats  out  that 
morning. 

I  could  llnd  no  record  of  taking  tlie  salmon  with  rod  excepting  that  of  my  friend  Mr.  A.  L.  Tulihs, 
of  San  I'Vancisco,  from  whose  inrorniation  1  was  induced  to  look  up  the  lishing.  His  rod  fishing 
is  the  only  one  I  have  heard  of  as  applied  to  the  salmon  in  salt  water,  and  I  have  seen  no  other 
during  uiy  lishing  except  that  of  Mr.  Simpkins,  of  Hoslon,  who  accompanied  me  on  one  of  my  lishings 
and  who  succeeded  in  catching  one  of  the  largest  salmon  I  have  ever  seen  caught  here,  weighing  32 
pounds.  I  equipped  myself  in  .'*an  Francisco  with  tho  hcst  I  could  get — two  cheap  hainhoo  trolling sen- 
hass  rods  of  U  ounces  and  !>  feet  iu  length.  My  additions  were  light  sea-hass  linen  lines  \o.  18,  600 
feet  long,  and  No.  t-0  Kirby  hooks.  The  hooks  I  had  siddered  to  a  short  link  of  strong  hrass  wire,  to 
which  were  attached  three  more  additional  brass-wire  links,  with  swivels  between,  adding  to  the  wire 
above  the  shank  of  the  hook  a  small  brass-wire  projection  without  barb,  to  hold  the  bait-lish  head 
in  position,  long  half-pound  load  sinkers  with  holes  iu  each  end.  These,  with  a  muUiplying  reel, 
completed  my  outllt. 

The  game  comniouces  when  the  salmon  is  brought  toward  the  surface.  Then  the  salmon  will 
frequently  strike  ofi"  on  the  surface  in  a  straight  line  several  hundred  feet.  In  two  instances  I  have 
tremliled  for  my  line,  being  coni|ielled,  with  all  the  strain  I  dared  to  put  on,  to  allow  the  tish  to  take 
out  within  .">0  or  IIX)  feet  of  all  I  had,  although  the  boat  was  being  propelled  as  rapidly  as  two  men 
could  row  toward  the  fish.     Miit  it  has  been  rarely  that  i  have  pniil  out  over  100  feet. 

Not  so  often  as  in  fresh  water  (hies  the  salmon  leap  (Uit  of  water,  ami  seldom  more  th;in  two  or 
three  times. 

My-daily  catch  has  averaged  nearly  eight  tish  and  given  most  exciting  sport.  The  careful  weight 
of  fiO  s.'ilinon  caught  I  tind  to  be  l,\'Xi  pounds,  or  about  10  pounds  each.  The  smallest  was  a  grilse  of 
fi  iioi'iiils  and  the  largest  of  HO  pounds. 

ill  my  catches  have  been  in  tho  early  morning,  starting  out  at  4  o'clock  and  getting  back  to  the 
Hotel  Del  Monte  in  each  instance  hut  one  for  lunch.  The  exception  was  nn  all-day  lishing.  when  I 
secured  tX  salmon,  weighing  280  pounds. 

\s  with  trout,  I  have  found  the  morning  best,  and  after  10  o'clock  the  fishing  falls  otf.  Two  or 
3  miles  of  rowing  has  been  ri'ipiired  to  reach  tho  lishing-groiind  from  Monterey  pier,  and  the  lishing- 
ground  I  have  found  so  far  to  extend  over  an  area  of  al)OUt  2  miles  long  by  1  mile  wide,  although  I 
have  no  doubt  that  the  salmon  could  have  been  found  out  2  or.'!  miles  tieycuid  that  limit.  I  have  caught, 
in  addition  to  the  salmon  brought  in,  half  a  dozen  locklish,  called  bluelish  by  the  fishermen,  but  nut 
Idnetish  as  known  East,  weighing  about  5  pounds  each;  also  two  codlish  of  5  or  li  pounds,  and  two 
llouiulers  of  .'>  and  8  pounds.     In  a  dead  calm  the  fishing  about  ceases,  as  with  trout  in  trolling;  hut 


N0TK8   ON   THE    FISHKUIKS    OK   THK    PACIFIC    COAST. 


23;-) 


;> 


■ir  feeding 
I  tlir  ){irat 
lie  lialiit  of 

ceuvs  lieve 
)tb<'V  stiiiill 
the  Hiirfiue 
giu'se,  mill 
cse  iiifii  nil 
(ittou  lilies 
!)•  weiylilii); 
e  above  the 
or  vowing, 

I  feet.     Tlio 
ise  it  iH  eut 

t  ceremony, 
the  careless 

II  twenty  or 
limes  wlien 

lessing  their 
better,  some 
ats  out  that 

A.  L.  Tiibbs, 
1  rod  tisbing 
sen  no  other 
f  my  lishingB 
,  -weighing  32 
3  trolling  sea- 
es  No.  18,  600 
irass  wire,  to 
ig  to  the  wire 
liait-tisb  head 
;ij)lying  reel, 

5  salmon  will 
tanees  I  have 
le  lisb  to  take 
y  as  two  men 

e  than  two  or 

areful  weight 
vas  a  grilse  of 

ij;  liaek  to  the 
sliiiig.  when  I 

s  otV,  Two  or 
1  the  fishing- 
Ide,  althongh  I 
Ihaveeanght, 
I'Viiien,  but  not 
iiiids,  and  two 
1  trcdliiig;  bill 


with  a  return  of  the  breeze  the  fishing  takes  on  again.  The  mi'tbod  of  taUiin;  foreilily  reminds  me  o( 
the  trout.  Sli.vly  at  times,  and  again  bnldly.  someiimes  striking  sevi'ial  times  at  the  bait,  and  with 
lidlowing  np  and  striking  at  intervals  of  a  few  seeonds:  at  times  biting  iilV  half  the  bait  and  In  follow- 
ing 11])  for  the  balaneo,  and  in  one  instaneu  following  n)i  tlie  bait  with  IVei|iient  half-deiidoil  aetion 
until  the  bait  was  within  10  feet  of  the  boat  and  then  tii-reely  seizing  it  while  I  hud  the  line  in  my 
hand.  It  ]>rovcd  a  eloso  vnW  in  a  donble  sense,  jih  the  tish  was  a  heavy  one  of  1.'.')  jioiinds,  and  earried 
the  line  out  of  n\v  hand  and  the  sinker  altai-hed.  which  ri'stcd  in  the  boat,  and  very  ncaily  got  away 
with  my  whole  onttit.  I  fortunately  still  held  my  rod  In  hand,  and  althongh  1  |iaid  out  ni'arly  tlll^ 
wludeof  my  (K)0  feet  of  line,  the  lish  wvn  well  hooked  and  in  (ifteen  minutes  was  brought  to  galT  In 
lioldnesH  and  general  action  the  salmon  has"  reminded  me  constantly  of  trout,  pa' iiig  but  little 
attention  to  the  lioat,  occasionally  passing  in  s|i;ht  within  a  few  fci't  and  si  i  iking  ou  t  le  surface  at  an 
occasional  small  lish,  and  at  times  going  I'litirely  out  of  the  water  in  pursuit. 

Kor  experiment  1  trii'd  the  spoon,  but  fancied  I  did  not  do  as  well  as  with  bait,  although  1  caught 
two  salmon  with  It.  I  also  tried  the  N]>oon  with  tish  bait,  catching  one  that  way,  but  believe  the  tish 
bait  alone  to  be  the  best.  Tlio  salmon  iipiui  being  opened  seem  to  have  more  s(|iiid  inside  than  other 
lish,  although  at  times  full  of  sardines,  and  oftenerwith  anchovies.  S.irdines  are,  however,  the  best 
halt,  and  8i|nid  but  indilVerenf.  while  I  have  had  some  success  with  smelts  ami  young  slini.  At  olie 
time,  out  of  bait,  I  used  a  strip  of  salmon  belly,  which  did  well  enough  t.i  cat .h  two  salmon. 

As  I  have  my  salmon  rods  for  lly  lishlng  1  shall  later  on  try  a  little  surface  work  with  the  tly,  but 
1  do  not  antii^ipate  much  suci'oss;  still  I  belicvi'  they  will  take  nuder  favorable  eireumstanc  js.  whin 
;liey  are  as  jdentiful  as  I  am  informed  by  the  lisheiui  jii  they  are  outside  the  hirbor  at  timey  in  deeper 
w  iter,  when  the  lishermen  have  sometimes  observed  several  salmon  at  a  time,  even  np  to  a  .l-zen  In 
number,  following  the  bait  nji  almost  to  the  boat',  side. 

The  fishing  in  the  harbor  Is  in  more  or  less  turbid  water,  with  n  depth  of  from  (!  to  10  fathoms; 
wliile  outside  of  the  bay.  in  deejier  water,  it  is  clearer  anil  the  salmon  can  be  more  distinctly  observed. 
I  am  informed  by  the  tlshernien  that  at  times  the  salmon  are  so  plentiful  a  few  miles  beyond  the 
harbor  that  they  are  enabled  to  till  their  boats  in  a  few  hours.  These  Occasions,  however,  are  rare,  and 
where  the  salmon  are  found  plentiful  one  day  they  may  not  lie  found  the  next.  It  has  been  usual, 
liowever,  for  the  salmon  to  remain  about  and  In  the  harbor  for  several  weeks  each  year,  altlmn^di  lliey 
skip  their  annual  \isits  occasionally.  The  smiiil  lish  which  thesaliiLou  follow  into  the  harbor  come 
in  countless  numbers,  often  in  large,  moving  masses,  and  their  jirescnec  is  indicated  to  the  lishermen 
liy  the  lioveriiig  sea  gulls,  iielicans,  and  other  jiredafory  birds.  These  are  seen  busily  at  work  on  the 
salmou-groiiiids,  and  often  indicate  the  most  favorable  places  fortishing.  While  the  salmon  evidently 
come  in  seliools  at  first,  it  would  appear  that  they  scatter  more  or  less  about,  instead  of  remaining 
together,  although  they  niafis  more  or  less  when  in  the  vicinity  of  large  schools  of  small  tish.  The 
lishermen  are  more  or  less  guides  for  e.ich  other,  and  they  may  be  scattered  over  a  sipiare  mile  without 
lining  much  In  eaich.  Presently  one  or  two  commence  hauling  in,  which  congregate  all  the  others  in 
llie  vicinity,  and  the  Ashing  goes  ou  merrily  for  awhile.  Then  a  scatterinj;  takes  jilace  ag.ilii,  and  ii 
legathering  afterwards.  Still,  I  have  found  about  as  good  sitecess  iu  passing  up  and  down  in  certain 
liioalities  as  in  following  the- fishing  boats. 

The  market  lishermen,  as  I  have  previonsly'observed.  lose  fully  half  of  the  salmon  they  hook  ;  it 
IS  a  straight  overhand  pull,  and  no  nive  except  that  which  is  compelled  by  waul  of  streiijrlh.  fhe 
line  and  hooks  are  strong,  and  the  lisherineii  have  no  time  to  wait.  If  the  salmon  are  plentiful  they 
do  not  much  mind  the  losses,  which  often  occur  from  neglect  in  using  the  gaff.  With  the  light  rod. 
the  fish,  if  hooked,  is  seldom  lost.  I  brought  in  severol  with  skin  holds,  which  would  not  have  been 
held  for  a  moment  in  band  fishing.  One  salmon  which  I  caught  had  been  on  one  of  the  market  lish- 
1  iiiieu's  line  mill  had  a  torn  book-mark  in  his  mouth  and  a  cruel  iiiUY  cut  between  his  ventral  and  anal 
lins.  The.  gaff  cut  was  nearly  3  inches  long,  and  had  penetrated  nearly  to  his  other  side,  and  was 
tlio  serious  to  have  ever  healed  up  again.  The  (ish  was  a  large  one,  of  about  '-'1  pounds  in  wel{{ht, 
mill  in  fine  condition,  althongh  the  gaft' cat  vras  evidently  two  or  three  days  old.  The  \Miunil  had 
I  >  iilently  made  but  a  slight  impression  on  the  appetite  of  the  fish,  as  it  struck  lierccly  and  fought 
liurd.     *     •     "• 

1  found  the  .snluion  which  exhibited  the  most  gamy  i|iialities  to  do  their  lighting  iii'ar  the  surface. 
^  I'luingly  to  disdain  any  dc|ith  after  once  lieing  brouglit  u|i,  and  to  often  make  an  almost  com]dcto 
I  in  nit  of  the  boat.  Certainly  a  more  beantiliil  sijrht  than  a  salmon  exhibits,  with  his  brillliint  colors 
;ii  he  strokes  along  with  his  jiowerfnl  tail  near  the  surface  in  the  clear  water  and  bright  light,  never 
(jladdens  the  heart  of  a  fisherman.      We  all  know  the  dangers  to  which  the  salmon  Is  cNposed  In  fresh 


23G 


HULLKTIN    or    THE    UNITED    STATES    FISH    COMMISSION. 


water,  and  from  which  but-  fiiw  survive,  an  it  is  iloiilitl'nl  if  but  very  f«w,  if  nny,  ever  return  from  the 
iipprr  Htroniim  whii'li  tlioy  nHCpn<l  nflor  thn  HpiiwniiiK  season,  lit  least  wlien  siirh  upper  waters  are  far 
reiiKiveil  froui  tlic  sea.  If  tliey  liavc^  the  exposmcH  in  the  deeper  waters  of  the  sea  wliich  follow  them 
ill  til-  rthoiil  water  of  Monterey  liay,  their  lives  are  inilecd  beset  with  idnHtant  risk.  I  saw  daily  in  the 
bay  on  the  (isliinK-Mrronnils  the  eiii'inies  ami  lonsiiniers  of  the  salmon  at  their  deadly  work,  in  the  form 
of  seals,  porpoises,  sliarks,  and  rowlisli.  Oneday  when  1  wanoiit.  whirh  was  very  fonKV,  I  was  startled 
by  the  iipriHiii);  of  a  eiirioiisly  ]ieukeil  hump  two  boat  leiiKtlis  ahead.  It  seemed  to  iiu'  like  n  boat's 
end  idevated  with  a  black  eloth  over  it,  but  a  moment  later  revealed  the  half  of  an  enormoiiH 
bewhiskered  sea  lion,  which,  raisin;;  itself  half  out  of  the  w.iter,  revealed  a  form  which  must  have 
weighed  at  least  a  Inn.  In  its  month  was  a  lar{L;e  salmon,  which  it  had  evidently  just  ean(;lit.  The  iusati- 
alile  nppetitoof  these  monsters  of  the  deep,  of  which  hundreds  abound  in  the  vicinity,  would  indicate 
that  they  are  not  slow  to  avail  themselves  of  the  salmon  invasion.  Well,  I  thought,  the  part  which 
man  plays  in  the  devastation  of  the  salmon  in  the  sea  is  but  trilling  compared  with  that  which  occurs 
from  their  natural  enemies  beneath  llio  waters. 

It  is  clear  that  the  salmon  of  Monterey  Hay  are  those  which  b(doiig  to  the  .Sacramento  or  San 
.loaqiiin  HiviT  group.  Their  average  weight  eonliniis  this,  and  that  I  hey  are  not  of  the  Columbia 
K'iver.  The  distance  t'roiii  Monterey  Uny  to  Son  I'rancisco  Itay.  into  which  the  .SaiTamento  and  San 
.Ioa(|nin  rivers  pour,  is  about  !!(»  miles.  Monterey  liay  and  that  of  Santa  Cruz,  a  few  miles  north,  and 
at  Hiuiie  id'  the  souihIh  iind  ba,\s  north  (Ui  the  coast,  are  the  only  jihices  known  where  the  salmon  is 
found  engaged  in  taking  his  food,  and  where  it  can  be  caught  with  fresh-dsh  bait.  It  certainly  jire- 
sents  a  favorable  op|iortunitv  for  studying  the  salmcm  in  its  i/ornnil  conditiim,  in  its  prime,  engaged 
in  seeking  its  natural  food  lli'n^  its  manners  and  peculiariti  'S  can  be  examined  with  ease,  and  some 
kmiwledgi'  obtained  of  Ihe  class  of  food  upon  which  it  best  thrives.  All  this  ran  be  obtained  and  the 
salmon  b  rough  I  to  gall'  in  his  superior  condition  before  the  advanced  condition  of  the  organs  of  repro- 
(Ini'tion  have  reduced  its  delicious  tl.ivor  or  weakened  the  vigor  of  i'.s  clVorts. 

Thi.s  yi'iir  the  flsliory  pnimiscs  to  bi'  imicli  iiioie  oxteiisivoly  followed  than  lastyesir. 
ProCo.ssioiial  (islierineit •owning  boats  and  lognlar  boatmen  will  resort  to  tlie  bay  from 
more  oi-  les.s  remote  platies.  Early  in  June  some  fish  were  taken,  but  ii  period  of  stormy 
weu/ln"  drove  them  ott".     On  June  13  .some  li.shiiig  was  going  on. 

An  interesting  jtointeonneoted  with  thissubjetit  is  that  these  are  undoubtedly  the 
fish  that  eonstitnte  a  part  of  the  fall  run  of  salmon  in  the  Saeramento  liiver.  Last 
fall  the  Sacramento  River  fishermen  took  a  number  of  salmon  in  their  nets  which  had 
hooks  in  their  moutli.s — clearly  fish  which  had  been  snagged  in  Monterey  Bay. 


THE  COLUMIUA  KIVKK. 

E.rplnnaton/  rrmarls — The  time  was  insufticieiit  and  the  condition?  not  suitable 
for  an  examina-tion  of  the  salmon  fishoriesof  theentire  river.  The  extremely  high  water 
had  seriously  iiH'ected  the  Usliing  in  the  whole  upper  river,  and  a  visit  at  that  time 
would  not  hiive  been  satisfactory  even  if  the  indefinite  suspension  of  railroad  traffic 
a!)d  the  uncertainty  of  water  transportation  had  not  rendered  the  contemplated  visit 
to  tlm  Cascades  and  The  Dalles  impracticable. 

The  inquiry  which  gave  promise  of  tlf  tnost  satisfactory  residts  was  the  examiua- 
tion  of  the  important  fisheries  and  large  canning  interests  of  the  Icwer  river,  which 
were  easily  accessible  and  aflorded  the  opportunity  of  inspecting  every  prominent 
method  of  fishing  in  tht^  river  except  that  with  wheels.  It  was  therefore  in  Astoria, 
the  greiBt,  center  of  the  salmon  industry  in  the  river,  that  most  of  the  time  available  for 
the  examination  of  the  Coluinbia  Hiver  basin  was  i)assed.  Here  and  in  Portland, 
where  some  time  was  also  sj)ent,  it  was  i)ossiblc  to  meet  fishermen  and  cauners  from 
all  i)arts  of  the  river. 

The  accompanying  memoranda  on  tht^  salmon  industry  simply  represent  mostly  the 
personal  in»iniries  and  observtitions  of  the  writer,  and  are  fur  from  being  a  complete 
account  of  the  business,    ^fany  things  were  observed  which,  while  of  great  interest 


NOTKS    ON   THK    FISHERIES    OF   THE    PACIFIC    COAST. 


237 


•n  from  tlie 
tors  nro  far 
"oUow  tliom 
iliiily  in  the 

in  tlic  foi'iii 
iviigstiirtliMl 
ko  a  boiit's 
II  uiioriiioiiH 
1  Illllst  liiivo 

Tho  iuHiiti- 
uld  iiulii'uto 

piirt  Avbicli 
rbii'li  occurs 

Bnto  or  Sim 
Ii«  Columbift 
mto  nnd  San 
w  iiortli,  anil 
ho  Nalmon  is 
ortaiuly  pri- 
inio,  ongajtod 
iHe,  and  Rome 
.inpd  and  tlio 
an»  of  repro- 

bii  lastyear. 
le  bay  fi'oin 
(1  of  stormy 

nbtedly  tbe 
Iver.    Ijivat 
which  had 
3ay. 


lot  suitable 
/high  water 
t  that  time 
hoatl  trathc 
phited  visit 

he  examiuii- 
river,  whicli 
y  prominent 
e  in  Astoria, 
avaihible  for 
in  I*orth\iul. 
•,annors  tioni 


to  tbe  person  who  for  tlie  first  time  visits  this  rcjjion.  wonld  have  too  little  jjeneral 
iinixntunce  to  deserv*;  mention.  In  ordrr  to  render  tlic  notvs  more  compUite,  an  aeeonnt 
of  tlie  salmon  industry  for  the  year  18U4  is  jnesented,  althon^jh  the  season  was  oidy 
half  over  at  the  time  of  the  wiiter's  visit.  The  information  1'or  the  latter  i»art  of  the 
season  has  been  obtained  chielly  by  «;orresiK>ndenee.  The  detaiU'd  tabular  matter 
iiei'e  offered  is  in  all  cases  drawn  from  the  books  of  caniiers  or  fishermen,  and  may  bo 
aecei)ted  as  a'tcurate. 

Tlir  Mdlmoii  Jhhery  and  cannhifi  indusiry  in  18UH. — The  tishinj,'  season  of  IHIKS on  the 
Columbia  IJiver  was  noteworthy  for  two  reasons — the  loss  of  life  among  the  fishermen 
of  the  h)wer  river  was  never  greater;  the  pack  of  chinook  salmon  was  the  smallest  in 
twenty  years,  that  is,  since  IST.'J;  and  the  general  i)ackwas  less  than  in  any  previous 
year  since  1S7J,  with  the  exception  of  1887  and  188!). 

Much  of  the  loss  of  hfe  among  the  gill-net  fishermen  in  the  j)ast  has  been  due  to 
gross  carelessness  or  Ibolhardiness  on  the  part  of  the  men  in  venturing  too  near  the 
bar  at  the  month  of  the  river  in  the  hope  of  taking  the  llsh  when  they  first  leave  the 
ocean.  It  is  said,  however,  that  the  <lisastrous  death  rate  in  18!(3  was  in  large  i)art 
unavoidable,  and  was  due  to  the  occurrence  of  sudden  gales,  which  took  the  boats 
umiwares.  In  the  early  part  of  .June  gales  resulted  in  the  death  of  34  men,  and  by  the 
close  of  the  season  the  loss  of  lives  reached  TA,  about  40  of  the  men  being  married. 
The  money  losses  in  boats  and  gear  aggregated  nearly  !*20,(K)0. 

In  the  early  i>art  of  Jlay  the  canuers  acceded  to  the  demands  of  the  gill-net 
fishermen's  union  for  a  price  of  .">  cents  a  pound  for  chii.ook  salmon  instead  of  the 
uniform  rate  of  $  I  per  fish  which  had  formerly  prevailed.  Uefereuce  to  tables  of 
averages  elsewhere  given  will  show  that  the  average  weight  of  chinooks  taken  with 
gill  nets  in  181)3  was  22.8(1  pounds,  so  that  the  i)rices  receive<l  amounted  to  an  advance 
over  18i)2  of  14  cents  on  each  fish  sold;  on  this  basis  the  fishermen  must  have  been 
benefited  by  the  change  to  the  anu)unt  of  fully  $7r),()()(). 

Fishing  with  all  forms  of  apparatus  in  the  lower  river  was  less  satisfactory  than 
in  the  previous  year.  The  average  eat<;h  of  salmon  by  gill  nets  was  more  than  100 
less  to  a  boat  than  in  181)2,  the  figures  given  being  4riO  against  5(15.  The  traps  were 
scarcely  half  as  successful  as  in  the  i)revious  season,  being  injured  by  storms  and 
tVeshets  and  being  shunned  to  a  considerable  extent  by  the  large  runs  offish,  owing, 
as  some  suppose,  to  a  shallowing  of  the  water  by  the  accunndations  of  scil  and 
sediment  caused  by  the  thousands  of  stakes.  Seine  fishing  began  latei'  than  usual 
and  was  unsuccessful  generally.  The  run  of  chinooks  in  August  was  very  large,  and  is 
said  i\)  have  obviated  what  would  otherwise  have  been  a  somewhat  disastrous  s(>asou 
to  the  ])ackers.  While  May  was  tlie  best  month  for  gill  nets  and  -Inly  for  pound  nets, 
the  catch  of  both  these  forms  of  apparatus  in  August  was  large.  The  run  during 
the  whole  of  the  open  season  in  August  was  reported  to  beextraordiiuirily  heavy,  and 
when  the  season  closed  there  was  still  an  enormous  body  of  fish  passing  up  the  river. 
The  total  pack  to  August  10  was  reported  to  be  about  .'Jflr»,000  cases,  of  which  about 
'-".10,000  cases  were  c'.inooks.  Comjiared  with  the  i)ack  of  the  year  1883,  ten  years 
ineviously,  when  only  chim)ok  salmon  were  canned,  the  decrease  in  chinooks  was  08 
lier  cent  and  in  the  total  pack  was  4a  per  cent. 


t  mostly  the 
1^  a  completti 
;reat  interest 


238 


BILLETIN   OK   THE    INITED   STATES   FISH   COMMISSIOX. 


Tlio  iiiiiiibd- of  Hiiliiioii  oiiiiiieries  oiK^intctl  in  the  ('(ilunibin  basin  in  lft03  waa  1'4, of 
wliitli  13  were  in  Oregon  and  11  in  Washington.    They  were  located  as  follows: 


Lwallty. 


County. 


OreuoD :  ; 

Antoria C'liitiiop 

(!m't<m  ; . . .  ilfi 

Diillfn 1  W«Bco 

Mu|il<-  1>«II I  MnllDiimali 

Warremlale d" 

I'urtliind I — ilu 


Number. 


Tiilal 

WHKlilliKtoii : 

Huv  Vi«w M'nlikinkum. 

llriHikticliI ilo 

Cathli'-not do 

CliiinMik 1  l*H('itlc 

Eimhcnir I  Wahkiakum. 

Ktnttkn ....do , 

1 1  na<i>  I'at'lHo 

Kn:iii|itoii ilo 

Pllliir  J!(K-k    ;  Wnhkiakuni. 

Wiitt'rlVird [ di» 


13 


Total 

Oniud  total . 


11 


The  rednrctl  pack  led  some  of  the  caniiers  to  resume  the  business  when  the  close 
time  was  over  and  the  fall  lisliing  began  on  Septenibei'  10.  At  that  time  there  was  a 
nnnu'rou.s  run  of  salmon  in  the  river.  By  some  these  were  regarded  as  small  chinook 
salmon,  by  others  tliey  were  thought  to  be  dog  salmon.  Judging  from  the  size,  10  to 
15  iiounds  on  an  average,  it  seems  i)i!>bable  the  tisli  were  dog  salmon  {Oncorhyiichm 
ktta).  if  so.  this  was  the  lirst  year  any  business  was  made  of  packing  them  on  the 
Columbia,  altliough  tiu'y  were  ratiier  extensively  canned  on  some  of  the  coast  streams 
in  liS02.  The  lisii  were  known  as  •'chums"  in  the  lower  river.  The  boats  could  go 
out  from  .\storia  and  return  loatled  in  a  few  lu)urs.  The  price  at  first  waa  .5  cents  per 
lish,  but  it  (luickly  dropi)ed  to  -  cents  per  (ish,  and  even  then  the  demand  waa  far 
below  the  sup]»ly.  The  canners  could  doubtless  have  packed  three  or  five  times  as 
many  as  they  did.  They  were  restrained  in  packing  these  fish  extensively  by  their 
poor  (luulity  when  canned.  W'ht^n  fresli  the  fish  were  tine-looking,  with  firm  flesh 
and  a  good  color  to  their  meat.  When  canned,  however,  they  bleached  out  and  became 
white  or  straw  coh)r.  Tiiey  could  only  be  .sold  as  tlhrd  or  fourth  class  goods,  bringing 
^!3,li(>  per  caae.    The  tpuntity  canned  was  about  2(1,000  cases. 

The  unusual  feature  of  the  fall  packing  operations  >,....  tne  utilization  of  humpback 
salmon  (O.^orhuschii).  The  canners  paid  5  cents  each  for  the  fi  h.  According  to  Mr. 
iM.  .1.  Kinney,  between  2,500  and  5,000  cases  were  prepared.  Some  of  the  raw  material 
caiue  from  I'uget  8ound.    A  few  silver  salmon  (O.  hiiiHtch)  were  also  canuetl. 

CoHilitiitn  oflhemlmiin  iiifJiistri/  in  J^DI. — The  regular  .salmon-fishing  .season  of  1804 
began  April  1(»  and  ended  August  10.  During  the  months  of  May  and  June  the  .sue 
cess  of  this  industry  was  seritmsly  Jeopardized  by  the  occurrence  of  uni)recedente<ll,v 
high  freshets,  which  ennstituted  one  of  the  principal  features  of  the  season.  A  later 
extraordinarily  large  run  of  salmon  overbalaui^ed  the  injurious  ett'ects  of  the  floods, 

During  the  height  of  the  flood  the  operations  of  the  gillnet  fishermen  were  inter- 
rui)ted.  but  by  the  middle  of  .luiie  the  gill  nets  began  to  take  large  numbers  of  fine 
ehinooks,  and  are  reported  to  have  done  well  during  the  remaining  part  of  the  season. 
Tile  ruM  of  fish  continued  large  to  the  very  end  ot  the  season.    On  August  7,  three 


NOTES    ON   THF,    FI8IIEKIE8   OP    THE   PACIFIC    COAST. 


239 


was  1*4,  of 
j\v8 : 


ill  tlie  close 
there  was  a 
all  ciiiuook 
3  flize,  10  to 
)icorhy)H'huii 
bom  o»  tlie 
aHt  streams 
ta  could  go 
5  cents  per 
iiid  was  far 
ve  times  as 
ely  by  their 
h  firm  flesh 
and  became 
ds,  briiiginfr 

f  hiimp^a^l'^ 
rdiug  to  Mr. 
aw  material 
lied. 

sason  of  1804 
iune  the  snc 
recedentedly 
M>n.  A  latii 
)f  the  floods, 
n  were  inter- 
mbors  of  flue 
)f  the  season. 
igust  7,  thr<'C 


days  before  tlie  suspension  of  flsliing.  I.')  tons  of  cliinooks,  ctiuivalent  to  ovor  .'(.(KM) 
lish,  were  landed  at  oiu^  cuinicry  in  Astoria.  Taking  the  season  through,  the  yt'arwas 
the  best  one  for  gill  nets  in  a  long  time.  According  to  .Mr.  Kinney,  many  gill  net 
crows  took  l.'i  tons  of  lish,  and  (Uie  caught  IT.^  tons,  e(|uivaleiit  to  over  1,7(M»  flsh. 

The  catch  of  blueback  salmon  in  traps  had  been  unn.sually  large  up  to  the  time 
of  the  writer's  visit  (.Iune.22),  and  advices  received  after  the  .suspension  of  tiie  flshery 
reported  a  general  ctuitinuance  of  the  run.  Some  <laily  calclu's  of  single  nets  and  sets 
of  nets  in  .hinc  were  larger  than  coriespttnding  weekly  lifts  during  tlie  jirevitms  season. 
The  season's  run  was  saiil  to  have  been  larger  than  for  (Ive  or  six  years.  In  the  upper 
river,  notwitiistanding  the  destrn<^tion  of  wheels  by  high  water,  the  catch  of  lilu«'baeks 
was  at  times  almost  unjuieoedented.     The  yield  of  steelheads  was  also  large. 

The  catch  of  chinook  salmon  in  traps  watt,  however,  remarkably  small.  Up  to 
June  22  .scmie  trai)s  had  take>i  only  2(M)  pouiuls  of  chiiiooks,  and  during  tlu^  whole  sea- 
son the  (puintities  of  chinooks  obtaiiu'd  in  this  way  were  much  below  the  average. 

The  i)rices  agreeil  on  by  the  canners  and  flsiiermen  of  the  lower  river  were  ">  tents 
a  pound  for  chinooks,  4  cents  a  jtound  for  blueba«'ks,  and  2  cents  a  i)ound  for  steel- 
heads.  The  comlition  of  the  industry  on  .June  lii  is  thus  ileseribed  in  a  disiiatchliom 
Astoria,  laiblished  in  the  Or'c(joHian,  of  Ptirtland,  on  June  16: 

Tlie  run  (if  milmoii  hn«  improved  jiroiitly,  iiinl  tin)  ciitih  of  the  )(>II-»Bt  men  ti>-(lii,v  was  t;'"«'iiter 
than  fcir  any  itay  in  tlio  liintory  of  tlio  caiinin);  linsincHs  lor  iiiaiiy  yearH  [lOdt.  Diiriii;;  llie  wuriu  anil 
|>loa>taiit  wtMitber  of  ,he  last  ten  ilayH  liiimlmlH  of  huata  vmild  lie  houu  out  nroiind  the  Jotty,  Tlic 
siU'cesM  of  the  t{ill-net  men  does  not,  however,  mean  that  their  reeeiplB  are  in  exeess  of  those  of  tho 
corresponding  time  last  year.  As  yet  the  traps  liave  yielded  lint  snnill  retnrns,  while  seininir  is  oat  of 
tho  (juestion,  owing  to  the  high  water.  Cannery  men  elaim  that  while  the  gill  uetsniay  take  eiiongh 
lish  to  pack  1U(),0<K)  eases  mor.t  than  werepaeked  last  year  from  the  sainu  sonrees  of  snpply,  the  short- 
age in  roceijits  from  seines,  traps,  and  tish-wheels  will  reach  fully  2(H),00()  e.iseg.  Tliis  view  of  the 
situation  is  liiirne  ont  liy  the  fact  that  orders  for  over  50,0(1(1  eases  are  known  to  have  heen  eaiK'elod 
(luring  the  past  two  weeks. 

I5y  the  end  of  the  mouth  the  estimated  shortage  was  considerably  reduced,  and 
as  the  season  wore  on  it  beiiame  apparent  that  instead  of  a  shoitjvge  there  would  be 
a  larger  pack  than  in  IS!).'?. 

The  canneries  operating*  in  the  Columbia  basin  in  1894  numbered  24  and  were 
located  as  follows: 


L(icRMtv. 


Otcrod; 

Aatoria 

Clirioii 

l)illl(18 , 

MniilclWl. 
Waircndiilc 
I'urllaml 


Total . 


County. 


CUtsop 

do 

Wasco 

Uultnomnli. 

....(1(1 

...do 


WaahlnEton: 

Hay  view '  Wa1iki»  aim. 

Bmokllcld I do 


Cnllilanict 

CliiimoU 

K«j{le  Clllt . . 

Kiir(jkii 

IlWflCO 

Kimpiiloii  .. 
I'illar  li(Hk. 
Waterloril . . 


Total 

Grand  total . 


do 

Taclflo 

Wabkiakuin. 

..do 

PaciBc 

...do 

Wuhkiakiiiti- 
..  do 


Number. 


lU 


240 


BULLKTIN    OF   THE    UNITED    STATES    FISH   COMMISSION. 


Detailed  llKurtw  from  w'lmrat*'  caiiiiers  Imve  been  (ibtiiiiiod  by  correHpondenee, 
wliicli  pliiee  tlie  puck  at  4<il,4'M»  eases,  of  wliieli  1h;{,4(M>  cases  were  prepared  at  Asto- 
ria, 204,(MK)atotlier  plae«!siii  tiio  lower  river,  and  74,(((M>  cases  at  the  Cascades  and  Tiio 
Dalk'H.  The  proportion  of  the  dilVereiit  species  eonstitntin),'  the  pack  is  estinnited  to 
be  about  us  follows:  (Jhinook,  (>'J  (ter  cent  or  .'{18.;j(i(i  cases;  biuebacks,  IG  percent 
or  7.S,8'J4  cases,  and  steellieads,  15  per  cent  or  (;'.I,2H)  cases. 

The  foref^oinj;  ll^nres  apply  only  to  the  rejfiilai-piickiiiK  season,  which  terminated 
August  10.  When  the  close- time  expired  on  Septend)er  10,  some'of  the  canneries 
resumed  o|ierat ions  and  (continued  to- pack  until  Novcunber  10.  From  infornuition 
received  from  Mr.  M.  .1.  Kinney,  it  api)ears  llust  about  70,000  cases,  ehi<'Hy  of  silver- 
sides,  were  i)repiired  in  the  fall.  Mr.  Kinney  stales  that  it  would  have  been  an  easy 
matter  to  pack  double  that  ((uautity  had  the  lishiu};  Ix^eu  carried  on  with  sutlicieut 
ener;,'y. 

SlatiMticn  of  Htthnon  p<uk  from  lH(i(j  to  ]s!)-f,  iiicliiMiiT. —  From  IHUO,  the  year  in 
■which  the  salmon  canning'  industry  on  the  (Columbia  River  was  established,  to  1894,  the 
(pnintily  of  salmon  utilized  for  eanning  pur])oses  was  alxuit  (i!)r»,400,000  pounds,  and 
the  aggregate  pack,  was  about  10,(kJ.'J,800  cases,  each  holding  48  one  pttund  cans,  or  the 
e«|uivalent.  The  value  of  the  pack  to  the  eauners  was  about  !j(il,7(i0,ij00.  ITp  toniul 
including  1887  practi(!ally  the  entire  <|nantity  of  salmon  utilized  in  canning  consisted 
of  chiuook  salmon.  8inee  that  year  larger  and  laiger  (piantities  of  steelhead,  blue- 
back,  ami  other  salmon  have  been  used  and  the  ii.imber  of  chiuook  salmon  entering 
into  the  pack  has  been  re<luced  in  the  same  proportion. 

The  following  table  shows  for  each  year  the  gn/ss  weight  of  salmon  utilized  for 
eanning,  the  mimbcr  of  cases  psusked,  the  wholesale  market  value  of  the  canned  tlsh, 
and  the  average  value  per  case.  The  growth,  decline,  and  present  coiulition  of  the 
industry  are  to  be  interpreted  in  the  light  of  the  statement  in  the  i)receding  para- 
graph as  to  the  utilization  of  the  cheajier  grades  of  sahiu)u.  The  figures,  as  they 
stand,  indicate  a  seri(Mis  decline  in  the  industry  since  the  business  reached  its  height 
in  1883  and  1884.  The  extent  of  the  decline  is  made  uu)re  appartuit  wheu  the  greatly 
augmented  quantities  of  apparatus  employed  in  recent  years  are  taken  into  eonaider- 
atitui.  With  the  number  of  fishing  api)liance8  employed  in  18!)4,  a  pack  in  that  year 
a  half  larger  than  that  in  1884  would  really  indicate  a  serious  reduction  iu  th  supply 
of  flsh. 

Summary  of  the  lalmon-mnning  intlnatry  of  the  Columbia  River  from  its  ongiii  to  the  present  time. 


Onus  weigbt 

Number  of 

Average ! 

Qrasa  weight 

Naiulmr  of 

Average 

Year. 

of  Mlnii--- 

caa«K 

ViUne. 

value    ! 

YtAt. 

of  galmon 

caaea 

Value, 

valuo 

nUUied. 

jiackeil. 

p«r  caae.  { 

ntiliced. 

packed. 

per  uaae. 

rounii$. 

Pound*. 

1866 

'j«o,ooo 

4.000 

*A4,000 

»lfl.  00   : 

1882 

35, 184, 600 

541,300 

42. 600. 000 

$4.80 

1867 

1,  170,  WW 

18,000 

288, 000 

16.00  ; 

1883 

40,911,000 

629, 400 

3,147,000 

5.00 

1888 

1,820,000 

28,  000 

302.  000 

14.00 

1884 

40,800,000 

820, 000 

2,915,000 

4.70 

1S«0 

0,  500,  IKlO 

100,000 

1,350,000 

13,50 

1885 

35,997,000 

6S3,  800 

2,  600, 000 

4.51 

1870 

0,  7,10.  000 

150,000 

1,  UOO.  (WO 

12.00  1 

1888 

29, 152,  500 

448,  ,'iOO 

2,135,000 

4.76 

1871 

l:i,  000. 000 

200.  000 

2,  1(X),000 

10.  .V)  1 

18A7 

23,  140.  000 

3,56,000 

2,124,000 

5.97 

1872 

10. 2r«i,  000 

2,'.0.  000 

2,  325,  000 

0.  30  1 

18t<8 

24,211,005 

372,  477 

2,327,981 

6.25' 

1873 

10,2.')0,000 

2')0.  000 

2,  260.  000 

».  UO  1 

1880 

20, 085,  495 

309.  885 

1,  809,  820 

5.84  1 

1874 

22,  750,  (MX) 

3f)0,  OOO 

2,  «25.  000 

7.50 

18110 

28  781,  385 

435.  774 

2,  407,  456 

5.  52  ! 

1875 

24,  37,';,  000 

375,  000 

2,  25(1  000 

6.00  ' 

18111 

26,  450,  635 

398.953 

2,  240,  904 

5.62 

1K76 

29, 280,  0(» 

450.000 

2,  476,  000 

5.50  i 

1892 

32,185,99!: 

487.  338 

2,  679, 069 

5.50 

1877 

24,  700,  IK)0 

380.  0(HI 

2,  052,  000 

5,40 

1893 

25,  672, 152 

393, 972 

2.135,824 

5.42 

1878 

28.  ilOO,  UOO 

400,000 

2,  300.  OOO 

5.00 

1804"... 

30, 462,  400 

461.400 

2,  422,  350 

5.25 

1879 

31,200,  IJOO 
M.4S0,0OO 
35,700,000 

480,  (KM) 
530,000 
550,000 

2,  640,  OOO 
2.  650,  000 

5.50 
5.00 

1880 

690,  499,  067 

10,563,799 

61.  480,  464 

1881 

2,  475,  000 

4.50 

i 
i 

'The  flgnr«a  given  do  not  Include  the  fall  pack  for  1894,  amouutlng  to  about  70,000  caaea. 


NOTES   ON    THE    FISIIKKIE8    OF   THK    PACIFIC    COAST. 


241 


oiidciu'i', 
at  Asto- 
ami  The 
inati'tl  to 
jier  cent 

Tiniiiatod 
caiiiKuies 
t'orination 
of  HilvtT- 
II  an  easy 
sutlicient 

le  year  in 
I)  189-1,  the 
»nn(l8,  and 
ans,  or  the 
Up  to  and 
^  consinted 
liead,  blue- 
)n  entering 

utilized  for 
anned  tlsh, 
ition  of  the 
eding  parn- 
68,  as  they 
I  its  height 
tlie  greatly 
to  consider- 
n  that  year 
tl,    supply 

■enent  time. 


Averogo 

voluu 

per  case. 


,000  I 
000  I 
000  I 

OiKI  i 

0<:0 

IWl 

I.  K20  I 

!,4r.ii  I 

J,B04 

ll,UO»  I 
H'J4  i 

•J.  :)M  ■ 


M-80 
5.00  I 
4.70 
4.  51 
4.76  I 
5.97  1 
0.25  ' 
S.B4  I 
5.52  ; 
5.62  1 
5.50  I 
5.42 
5.25 


0.404  \. 


Preservation  tind  iiicredMe  of  the  hhJihuh  Huppbj. — It  is  not  unnatural  that  tin"  solici- 
tude for  tlie  nniintcnance  of  the  supply  of  salmon  on  the  Oolunihia  l{iv«u'  should  now 
he  greater  aiul  more  general  than  at  any  previous  time  in  the  history  of  the  fishery. 
The  (;ateh  of  chinook  i  ilmou  has  recently  shown  an  almost  constant  anninil  *leereas«\ 
and  the  smicess  of  the  industry  is  yearly  becoming  more  Jeopardized.  People  who 
within  a  short  time  scouted  the  idea  of  a  i^crmaneiit  reduction  in  the  number  of  chinook 
.salmon  entering  the  river,  are  now  n<tt  averse  to  conceding  the  etleets  of  overlishing, 
ami  there  is  probably  no  one  pecuniarily  interested  in  the  industry  who  does  not 
realize  that  the  time  has  come  for  active  nu'asures  to  prevent  a  still  more  serious 
impairment  of  the  abundance  of  salmcm.  Of  course  the  supjdy  of  chinook  salmon  in 
the  ('Olumbia  Ba.sin  is  still  enormous  and  the  productive  capacity  of  the  river  is 
wonderful.  All  reference,  therefore,  to  a  decreased  abundamie  must  be  construed  in 
the  ndative  sense  as  comjiared  with  the  conditions  ])revailing  when  the  acme  of  the 
canning  industry  was  attained  in  1H8-1  and  ISH,"*.  The  threatened  exhan8ti(»n  of  the 
.supply  must  also  be  considered  with  reference  to  the  extent  of  the  fishing  now  carried 
(Ml.  which  is  not  oidy  commensurate  with  the  supply,  but  is  overtaxing  the  cai)acily 
(if  the  river.  The  facts  must  also  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  annual  reduction  is 
liastened  by  the  employment  of  larger  and  larger  (luantitiesof  apjtaratus;  that  as  the 
sii])p]y  becomes  smaller  the  diminution  becomes  nntre  pronounced  in  geometrical 
ratio;  and  that  the  results  of  overtaxation  of  the  resources  .f  the  river  in  a  given 
.season  are  not  seen  the  next  year  or  the  next,  but  are  to  be  gauged  in  the  fourth  or 
llfth  year  following. 

Special  inquiries  were  made  by  the  writer  among  the  stilmon-canners,  fishermen, 
ami  citizens  as  to  the  legislative  or  other  action  demanded  by  the  present  condition 
of  affairs.  The  i)ractica!  unanimity  of  opinion  is  rennirkable  in  view  of  the  suppose<l 
diverse  interests  represented  by  canuers,  gill-net  fishermen,  trap  tlshermen,  seine  fish- 
ermen, wheel  fishermen,  etc. 

Foremost  among  the  measures  advocated  for  the  imi)rovement  of  the  salmon 
industry  is  artificial  propagation.  The  reliance  placed  in  fish-culture  is  practically 
unanimous.  Some  believe  that  nothing  else  is  necessary  for  the  regeneration  of  the 
t'.sliery  than  very  extensive  fish-cultural  operations,  but  most  persons  in  the  salmon 
districts  think  that,  for  a  time  at  least — until  the  fishery  begins  to  improve — the 
propagation  work  should  be  supplemented  by  some  prohibitive  measures. 

It  being  generally  recognized  that  the  decline  in  the  abundance  of  chinook  salmon 
IS  due  to  the  fact  that  the  length  of  the  fishing  season  and  the  avidity  with  which  I  lie 
fishery  is  prosecuted  prevent  a  sufficient  number  of  salmon  reaching  the  si)awning- 
firounds  to  repair  the  annual  destruction  by  man,  the  character  of  the  i)rotcction 
which  has  been  considered  most  necessary  is  a  shortening  of  the  fishing  season,  sup- 
liltMuented  by  a  short  weekly  intf^rmiHsion  in  the  fishing. 

Under  present  regulations  the  regular  salmon-fishing  on  the  Columbia  River 
lu'gins  April  11  and  continues  until  August  10.  In  theopiiiionof  thel'.S.Oommissitmer 
ot  Fish  and  Fisheries,  if  the  fish  that  are  now  taken  in  April  and  August  were 
allowed  to  pass  up  unmolested,  a  very  marked  improvement  in  the  abundance  of 
sulinon  would  in  due  time  be  wituessed,  and  this  protection,  with  amide  artificial 
l>i(tpagation,  would  rapidly  restore  the  jiroductiveness  of  the  river. 

F.C.B.  18W-16 


242 


HUIXKTIN   OF  THE   UNITED   STATES    FISH   COMMISSION. 


TlioCoinniiHHioner  may  bo  (|iioto(l  on  tliin  point  iih  fullowa: 

Thx  iiiiinlM^r  (il'cliiiiook  Hiiliiiiiii  tiikoii  in  April  anil  AiiKUNt  in  rrliitively  Rninll  and  under  oonili- 
tiuiiH  not  HO  prolitablii,  tiillK^r  to  tint  rauniTiuH  or  tho  liHliriuK-n,  iih  tlioHit  carried  on  diiriuK  the  luonl.liH 
ofMikv,  .liiiio,  anil  .Inly.  'I'liu  April  run  of  tliiit  Hiilnioii,  il'iillowcd  to  p»hn  witlimit  intprruptiou  to  tlio 
livn<l\vikt<'TH  of  tli«  C'liliiniliiii  mid  itn  tribiitarioH,  would  Npawn  in  tliimn  waters,  and  tlin  prcHrut  i>ro- 
diiotlve  eiipaeity  of  tlin  rivt^r  wmilil  lio  inereimud  to  hiicIi  an  extent  as  to  niiiili  nioro  tlian  eoiiiponantn 
for  tliu  reNtrirtionN  iinpoHed  liy  tlio  prohibition  of  tli«  ti»h<try  opuratiimH  during  the  month  of  April. 
Th«  Aiif{n8t  run  of  Chinook  Halinon  coiiHiHts  of  gravid  IInU  iivur  their  Mpawnlnit  time.  The  llosh  for  thin 
reaHoii  huH  und«ix<»»<  detoriuration,  and  if  cHiined  eouNtitiiteit  an  inferior  |>riidiiet,  the  nale  of  which 
willdiNiredit  thuropiitntion  whieli  tho  (.'idiiinlii!t  IkiverNalnioii.juHtly  liobi  in  ]iuliliee»itiniation.  None 
of  the  AiignHt  run  of  chiiiookN  probably  iiHi-und  the  ('oluinliia  above  Tlie  Ihilles.  They  8|iawn  in 
tho  tributary  ■treaniN  of  the  Lower  Coliiiubia  and  in  the  main  Ntreani  between  The  Dalleg  and  the 
mouth  of  the  river. — (  Report  of  the  (.'onimiiwionur  of  KiNh  and  Ki.sherieH  on  luvostiKatiuus  in  the 
Columbia  Kivitt  in  roKAi'd  to  the  Salmon  KlHheries.     WaHhiiiKton,  18U1.     pp.  l(i,  17.) 

Ah  tliu  Cointiii.SHioner  statiM,  tliu  pn(!kiti(;  of  mihiioii  in  April  is  not  generally 
repai<l('(lnspi-olltiil)U%  owiiii,'  to  the  iiTct,'nlarity  witii  wliich  the  tisli  come  and  the  rela- 
tive .scarcity,  bwiaiise  of  wiiich  much  lime  is  lo.st  by  the  caiminj^  force.  As  to  the 
Au^'UHt  tl8li,  they  are  iiHiially  ho  near  tlie  Hpawniii^  |)erio(l  that  tlie  tleHli  iH  Hoft  and 
often  niitlt  for  canning,  and  miicli  waste  result^;  theH.sii  are  alsooften  scarce  and  the 
Hupply  is  insullicient  to  keep  the  canneries  in  operation.  It  simietimcs  ha])pen.s, 
however,  tiiat  tiie  season  is  hite  and  tiie  Anjj;iist  run  consists  of  an  abundance  of  tish 
in  excelhMit  condition  for  canninij:.  In  some  seasons  tiie  tlsh  are  more  abundant  and 
in  better  condition  in  August  than  in  any  otiier  month,  ami  in  IHO.'S  the  run  of  iish  in 
the  montli  in  tpiesrion  cimtribnted  mnch  to  the  (Inancial  success  of  the  canners. 

Tlie  sentiment  of  tlie  canners  in  tiie  lower  river  i.«  strongly  favorable  to  tho 
re.striction  of  the  canniiifj  sea.son  to  the  three  months  of  May,  -June,  and  .hily,  and  tht; 
susi)eiisionof  (isliinj,'  during  the  whole  of  April  antl  Augu.st.  A  few  canners  favoriii<( 
a  shorter  sea.son  would  liiio  the  privilege  of  packing  in  August  if  they  thought  it 
desirable,  and  still  fewer  would  i)refer  to  operate  their  canneries  in  April. 

That,  as  a  whole,  no  conspictunis  i)art  of  the  pack  is  taken  in  Ai)ril  and  August, 
and  that  making  a  dose  time  of  these  months  would  not  seriously  impair  the  business 
of  the  canners,  may  be  seen  from  the  following  summary  based  on  the  quantities  of 
flah  packed  during  eiudi  of  the  four  years  ending  in  1892: 

Percentage  o,'  weight  of  each  kind  of  salmon  packed  on  ihe  Columbia  Ilivcr  in  each  mon'.h  in 

18S9,  IH'M,  ISOl,  and  lAV^. 


Yeara  and  aiKtoloa. 


1H89. 

Chinook 

Hliifilinrk 

StKellioatl 

1890. 

Chinook 

Illiiobiick 

SteclUoail 

1801. 

Chinook 

Itliii'liAi'k 

Stwllieiul 

1H»2. 

Chinook 

niiiebnck 

Steelbead 


April. 


12.47 
18.78 
6.77 


3. 06 
8.50 
3.07 


8.74 
9.05 
2.72 


6.05 
9.9U 
2.41 


May. 


21,81 
32. 03 
0.03 


20.50 
27.55 
8.31 


19.00 

28.70 

0.00 


20.61 

35.38 

7.51 


June. 


23.61 
35.40 
38.47 


28.20 
■.0. 42 
31.05 


23.  73 
43.  M 
27.87 


26.33 
37.86 
32.  32 


July.       Aiiguat. 


42.11 
15.80 
40.73 


30.00 
20. 44 
50.45 


42.22  I 
10.83  ' 
51.44  . 


37.78  i 
14.67  I 
45.0:1 


Total. 


1.56 
3.U0 
6.62 


6.22 

1.02 

11.18 


B.25  I 
2.19  ! 
12.13 


100.00 
100.00 
100.00 


100.  UO 
lUO.IK) 
100.00 


100.00 
100.  UO 

100.00 


100.00 
100.00 
100.00 


iniler  coiuU- 
;  tkuUluiiLliB 
pliou  to  the 
prcm-iit  l>rii- 
(•oinpousftte 
ith  of  Aiiril. 
llcsh  for  thin 
lUi  iif  whicli 
itioii.  Noiiu 
i?y  8i>iiwn  in 
iill<-B  uni\  tli« 
utioiis  in  the 

b  generally 
11(1  the  rela- 
As  to  tlie 
i«  Hoft  and 
lice  and  tlie 
I'S  hapi'C"**' 
lance  of  ilsli 
nuulaut  aiitl 
un  of  iisb  iu 
liners. 

ruble  to  tlio 
Iuly,aiul  the 
lers  favorinf? 
py  thought  it 

and  Augnst, 
the  business 
quantities  of 


mon'.h  in 


.00 
.110 
.00 


1.00 

uo 
).oo 


J.OtI 
B.OO 
B.OO 


NOTK8   ON   Tin;    FI8HER1KH    OF   TIIK    rACIKIC    COAST.  243 

A  fairly  aic-iirate  gauire  of  th«>  Hcntinient  of  those  pniuiiiifntly  iiitcrt-sted  ii\  (lie 
industry  of  the  river  as  to  the  nicasiiren  favored  for  the  jire.ser\ ation  of  the  .salmon 
.Hiipply  may  be  obtaine«l  iVoni  the  fidlowing  tabulated  statenient,  re|ireH(>ntinK  the 
results  <if  interviews  with  eanners,  ]inblir  men  in  salmon  tishin;;  centers,  and  Blate 
fishery  uttlcers,  chietty  in  Astoria  aitd  I'ortland,  the  canners  predoniinatin);: 

V^ivoriiiK  extoimlvo   artiflcial  propikgittlun   to  exrlugiou   iif  niijr   r««triotive 

iiiciisiiroH I 

Kjiviiriiiu  l'xtelll«lvt^  iirtitlviiil  |iropikKntioii  iiiiil  i'Iohu  tiiiio  tlin>u)(lioiit  iiionlli 

(ilApril "3 

Favoring  extevnivo  nrtittcial  propiigiitioii  anti  cloito  time  throii(;hont  month 

of  August '2 

Favoring  extonKive   nrtilirial   propagation    and   vIoho  time  throughout  the 

mouths  of  April  ami  AugiiHt 1 13 

10 

In  the  case  of  the  apparatus  in  the  upper  river,  that  is,  in  the  section  between  the 
Cascades  and  Celih),  a  close  time  extending  to  May  10  or  1.")  in  S|)riii}f  nnd  an  extension 
(if  the  o|»en  .season  to  August  10  or  ir>  wtmid  be  a  proper  niudillcatiun  of  the  close  season 
advocated  for  the  lower  river,  as  the  tl.sh  which  entered  tins  river  during  tlui  last  two 
weeks  in  April  woidd  be  given  opportunity  to  jia.ss  unmolested  beyond  the  wheels. 
In  lieu  of  such  an  arrangement,  the  establishment  of  a  graduated  close  time  for  differ- 
cut  parts  of  the  river  or  of  a  moving  zone  of  protected  water  has  been  suggested. 
Wheel  tl.sherinen  would  jirobably  not  object  to  such  a  plan.  Tho.so  interviewed 
(Xltressed  thent-selves  as  favoring  a  close  time  till  May  10  or  15,  provided  the  course 
was  considered  advisable  for  the  protection  of  the  tish. 

It  may  be  stated  that  any  snggestu)n  of  a  shortening  of  the  seas(»n  on  the  Colundiia 
Itiver  will  probably  be  opposed  by  a  large  nnijority  of  the  gill  net  tishermen  and  nuuiy 
iiersons  using  other  forms  of  apparatus,  under  the  impression  that  a  curtailment  of 
the  sea.son  would  meau  a  reduction  iu  their  income,  whereas  the  <»•" -isite  result  would 
]ii()babiy  ensue. 

The  prohibition  of  certain  finnisof  nets  has  from  time  to  time  been  suggested  and 
advocated.  In  the  lower  river  the  use  of  wheels  has  by  a  few  per.sons  been  ojiposcd 
on  the  ground  that  the  tish  which  have  escaped  the  multitude  of  nets  in  the  part  of 
the  river  below  the  Cascades  should  be  allowed  to  pass  unmolested  to  tlie  spawning- 
^.Tounds.  Those  interested  iu  the  wheel  llshing,  on  the  other  hand,  say  that  the 
quantities  of  Chinook  salmon  taken  iu  wheels  are  insigniticant  as  compared  with  tho.se 
caught  by  other  means  in  the  lower  river,  and  that  if  unne  salmon  were  allowed  to 
liass  as  far  as  the  wheels  the  supply  would  b«!  much  better  maintained  by  natural 
means.  It  can  not  be  said,  however,  that  the  desire  to  pro.scribe  any  special  kind  of 
llshing  apparatus  is  very  prevalent,  and  the  entire  canning  interests  would  probably 
strenuously  oppose  any  attempt  to  abolish  traps,  seines,  or  wheels,  for  the  reason  that 
these  appliances  are  largely  owned  or  controlled  by  them,  and  alVord  the  prin<ii)al 
iiKuns  for  successfully  withstanding  w  .iat  are  considered  unjust  demands  of  the  Fisher- 
men's Union,  which  advocates  the  use  of  no  form  of  apparatus  save  the  gill  nets. 

*  All  of  these,  while  preferring  to  Bug|ten<l  linhing  during  only  one  of  the  months  in  cpiestion, 
wuiild  probably  not  bo  averse  to  haviu;;  a  rlose  time  in  both,  if  deemed  necessary  or  dcHirable  by  com- 
lii'lt'iit  authority. 

t  Cue  uUo  faroriuE  abolition  of  wheels. 


244 


Ill'LI-KTIN'    OF   THK    ITNITEn    HTATE8    FIHH    rOMMlHmON. 


Salmon  in  thr  Willninttle  nii<l  (UackumiiH  yinrn, — It  is  n'portctl  ]>y  liHlioiiiieii  ami 
H|M>itHiiifii  that  only  tlic  «-arly  iiiii  ot'  <'liiii<M>k  Nalnimi  ph;h  up  tli«>  Willaiiiottc  Wivor, 
UH  it  JH  only  in  npriii);  that  tluMo  in  Nunicicnt  ciirrtMit  in  tiial  Htn>ain  to  attract  tlHh 
nHcoiMlini;  the  (Niliinibia;  later,  t ho  water  iH-roinvH  Hlti^^iHli.  and  the  Humniei-  run  of 
salmon  paHsox  by  the  mouth  of  the  liver. 

In  IHiU,  owin^  to  an  unuHually  lar^e  volume  of  water,  many  Halmon  are  Miid 
to  have  jjoiie  over  tlie  falls  of  tfie  Willamette  at  Orejjon  (Mty,  hut  it  seefus  elear  that 
in  ordinary  seasons,  when  tiiere  is  lu)  special  increase  in  the  amount  of  water  at  the 
fulls,  ^reat  ditllculty  must  be  e\perienc4^>d  by  the  miKratiii);  llsh  in  surmounting  them. 
The  construction  of  one  or  several  tish  ladders  at  the  fulls  is  urpeidly  needed,  and  is 
now  more  important  than  at  any  previous  time. 

It  iH  f;ratifyin({  to  be  able  to  re<>ord  the  fact  that  at  th»  last  HCRsion  of  thu()re(;on 
legislature  |>rovisioii  was  i-nule  for  the  construction  of  a  lishway  at  the  Wilhunetto 
Falls.  The  plans  for  the  location,  building',  and  maintcnaiu-e  of  the  la<lder  are  thus 
described  in  the  Oregoninn  for  August  10,  1894: 

(iovoriior  IViiiiiiycr,  Slat<!  TreiiBiirer  Mi'tHrlmn,  and  Secretary  of  State  Mcllrhle,  nniHtitiitiiif;  tin' 
8tate  bouril  which  wim  aiitliitri/.t-tl  by  tho  liiHt  1t<Ki'*l<'t<>ro  to  hx'.ito  a  tUhway  over  th<t  Winaiiiotte  KuIIh, 
will  take  the  llrnt  step  in  that  ilirertion  to-iliiy .  Tlio  ((ovcnior,  treaHiirer.  anil  Hcrretary  with  State  KiHh 
CominiNoioner  Mctiiiirf,  iloii.  (ieorgo  T.  MyerH,  and  Heveral  other  Kcnilcincn,  will  meet  in  Oregon  Cily 
tu-duy,  and  prureed  to  the  fallH  and  Holeot  a  loeatioii  for  the  Tmhway. 

For  the  eouHtrnrtion  uf  thin  llnhway  the  leffiHlatnre  iip))roprtuted  the  Hnm  of  iflO.OtN),  but  it  will 
cort  nuic'h  lesii.  Hy  the  proviiiions  uf  the  law  the  liHbway  shall  be  coiiatrncted  in  the  bed  of  the  river 
oil  the  west  xido  of  the  nwiin  fall,  by  innkinK  excavations  in  the  Holid  rock  when  the  water  in  low,  ho 
that  the  Hlo)ie  will  be  more  ^radnal,  and  when  the  water  in  higher  the  excavationN  will  form  a  werivs 
of  couiu'ctiii);  poolH,  all  constructed  und  arranged  in  such  niauner  that  Halmon  can  freely  oacend  from 
below  to  above  the  falls  by  passlnj;  from  ]iool  to  pool. 

In  order  to  have  the  lishway  bnilt  in  the  manner  provided,  the  board  is  eni))owered  to  remove  all 
obstructions,  whether  natural  or  artiticial,  to  its  construction,  or  to  the  passaKe  of  lisli  over  the  fallt. 
Obstructions  to  the  passage  of  llsh  include  lish-whccls,  nets,  lines,  and  other  devices  for  I'atcbing  llsh 
stulioncd  within  .^O  foot  of  the  lishway.  The  maintenance  of  such  obstructions  is  a  misdemeanor,  anil 
is  punishable  by  a  line  or  iniprisoument,  or  both. 

The  board  is  authorized  to  make  all  necessary  arranBemeuts  for  the  construction  of  the  lishway, 
such  as  omployinK  u  superintendent  and  workmen,  ])urchasiuK  tools  and  siip|ilies,  and  advertising  tor 
bids.     All  bidders  must  nureo  to  keep  the  lishway  in  good  order  for  two  years  after  its  completion. 

The  exiateuco  of  ii  dam  in  the  Clackamas  Itiver  is  geiuTally  recojjnized  as  one  of 
the  greatest  evils  now  att'ecting  the  (isheries  of  the  Oolumbia  Uiver  basin.    Not  only 
is  this  obstruction  annually  destroying  millions  of  uudeposited  ova  and  practically 
inhibiting  natural  reproduction  in  the  headwaters  of  tlie  river,  but  it  is  seriously 
impairing  the  operations  of  the  hatching  station  of  the  U.  S.  Fish  Commission  located 
on  that  stream.    The  enactment  of  a  law  is  earnestly  desired  requiring  the  owners  of  | 
dams  in  all  salmon  streams  to  put  in  and  maintain  suitable  fislnvays,  which  should 
be  subject  to  the  approval  and  regulatiitu  of  the  State  tish  (iominissioners.     In  the  case  | 
of  streams  like  the  Clackamas,  on  which  (lovernment  or  State  hatcheries  are  located. 
it  would  seem  that  the  great  interests  at  stake  would  warrant  the  absolute  prohibition  | 
of  dams  or  other  obstructions,  and,  possibly,  the  pros(;rii»tioii  of  all  lishiug. 

According  to  Mr.  Seaburg,  of  Ilwaco,  Wash.,  one  of  the  most  extensive  salinoii 
packers  in  the  United  States,  in  April  and  May,  18"J3,  about  140  tons  of  chiiiookl 
salmon  were  taken  bt  low  the  dam  in  the  Clackamas  liiver  by  means  of  gill  nets  ;m\ 
seines.    The  principal  part  of  this  relatively  laige<!atch  was  taken  at  the  dam,  whore  I 
the  lish  congregated  in  their  attempts  to  surmount  that  obstruction.    lu  1894  over  1(W  I 
tons  were  taken  in  the  same  locality. 


The 

l"<!>4  was  I 
■"^^l  to  9}  iJ 
"  ^iiich  I J 
Thei] 
"i"  chanj 
Silliiet  M 
uiiiler  a 


N0TE8   ON    Tin;    KISIIKKIEH    OK    TIIK    I'ACIKIC    COAM'. 


246 


riiien  iiiid 
tt»^  Uiver, 
It  nut  Uh1> 
aei"  run  of 

II  are  Hald 
clear  tbnt 
itor  lit  tlu- 
itiiifj  «l»«'i"- 
lied,  iii>»l  '»* 

tlie  Oregon 
NVillainetto 
er  are  thus 

imtitiitiiiR  till' 
liiiiiette  Knllit, 
itli  8l!it«KiBli 
u  OreKon  City 

m,  but  it  will 
,.a  of  the  river 
viitor  iH  low,  no 
11  form  »  werics 
■ly  iwcoiid  from 

.(1  to  rt-movo  all 
li  over  tlie  (iMi- 
1,1-  .•iitobiug  li»b 
isdciiu'iuior,  iiml 

of  the  tlBhway, 

atlvMtiHiiiK  ti)r 
H  c'oiiipli'tion. 

\/.(n\  as  one  of 
in.    Not  only 
1(1  iiractieally 
t  is  seriously 
lissiou  lofntotl 
the  owners  of  | 
which  shoultl 
In  the  ease 
08  are  locatftl. 
lite  prohibition 

inji. 

usive  salnudi 
)n8  of  Chinook  I 
)f  gill  nets  anil 
he  (lam,  wlu'vc 
u  1894  over  W 


There  is  nti  ilonitt  thitt  tlie  natural  cnnilitions  in  the  (lackainas  are  <>xtreniely 
lavoraliie  U.i  the  lireeiiinj;  of  suinion,  anil  lh<^  Inrt-pun^'  siatcnient  iil'  the  caleh  in  that 
Htreaui  in  IHtKtaml  IMOl  elearly  iinlieateH  that  an  enoiinous  annual  prodnetioiutf  yunu); 
salmon  mi^lit  he  tlependeil  on  if  the  llsh  were  not  snlijeet  to  captnrt^  ami  ohstrui-tltm. 
It  is  eiiually  line  lliat  noninterlerenee  with  llie  salnmn  whiirli  have  ese:t|>e<|  the  tra|)s, 
seines,  ami  u\\l  netn  of  the  (,'oliimliia  ami  reaeluHl  the  ( 'laekamas  wmihl  permit  the 
liatehin);  station  there  located  to  liheiate  enough  yonnf;  salmon  each  year  to  );o  far 
toward  repaii'ini;  the  diminnlion  in  the  snpply  eansed  l>y  exeesisive  lishin^. 

Mr.  L.  T.  liariti,  who  has  been  tlshiiiK  on  the  (Jolnmbia  and  its  triltutaries  for  moro 
than  thirty  lour  years,  inlormed  iim>  that,  as  a  resalt  of  his  |itM'sonal  oliservati<ms  in 
I'very  impoi'tant  branch  of  the  ('ohnnbia,  lie  has  no  hesitat'im  in  allirminK  thai  the 
Clackaimis  silways  was  and  still  is  the  best  tributary  salmon  stri>am  in  the  whole  basin. 

The  eonthinam'e  of  present  conditions,  however,  can  not  fad  to  have  a  far  reacliiiit( 
clfect  on  the  abundance  of  salmon  in  the  lower  ( 'ohnnbia  K'ivcr,  and  an  accelerated 
(liminutiou  uf  chinooks  may  bo  depemled  (m  as  a  diriMt  result  of  the  obliteration  of 
the  run  into  the  headwaters  of  the  Olackamas. 

\otis  itn  <ii>pii  III  Ills  mill  tlir  vnlcli. — Inder  this  head  some  general  notes  on  the 
principal  forms  of  apparatus  and  tht>  catch  in  each  may  be  presented,  and  some  detailed 
statistics,  showing  the  yield  ot  certain  nets  in  is<)-  to  bSUt,  niay  be  introdnccd. 

As  is  well  known,  uill  iu>ts  take  larger  (piantilies  of  chinook  salmon  than  all  other 
nets  cond»ined.  While  the  propintion  of  llsh  thus  obtained  mitnrally  varies  from  year 
to  year,  the  yill  net  yield  always  so  far  overbalances  the  lemaiidiincatch  that  it  allords 
an  accurate  basis  for  determining;  the  abundance  at'  the  lish,  whiU;  it  is  evident  that 
:iiiy  re(;nlations  intended  to  increase  the  supply  of  chinooks  nuist  have  piimary 
application  to  the  gillnet  lishery.  The  importance  of  the  ^ill  net  as  a  factor  in  the 
tiiking  of  chinooks  will  be  clearly  seen  from  the  followiiij.;  coinpaiative  statement  of 
tiie  number  of  these  lish  oiitained  on  the  Colnnd)ia  Kiver,  with  all  forms  of  apparatus 
and  with  gill  nets  alone,  during  the  period  of  live  years  beginning  1889: 

sialemenl  of  the  total  iiumhri-  »/  chiiiook  aalmnii    tidrn   on    the  Coliimbiii  liini-  from  tS89  to  IS9,1,  with 
the  iiiimher  and  percintaiie  uf  thoae  niiii/hi  with  ijxll  ntt>. 


TMr. 


1889. 
1890. 
1891. 
1K)2. 
1893. 


Total 
catch. 


772, 425 
942.  HH 
Wl.  779 
91B,  KM 
872.:il7 


Total I    4.468,238 


uninotoatoli. 
Number. 


478,  Of.7 
580,871 
657,  l:i3 
,'>7K,  912 
544,984 


2,839,997 


Percent- 
age. 


61.90 
61.61 
6tt.  18 
63  14 
62.  48 


63.56 


The  employment  of  snudlnieshed  gill  nets  has  of  late  been  increasing,  and  in 
l>lt4  was  more  extensive  ' an  ever  before.  The  regular  mesh  of  salmon  gill  nets  is 
"<^  to  J)J  inches,  while  the  nailer-meshed  nets  which  have  been  coming  into  use  have 
a  7  inch  mesh. 

The  principal  reason  for  the  increa.se  in  the  nse  of  sniall-meshed  nets  has  been 
tin;  change  in  basis  for  selling  the  catch  elfected  in  18!);i.  Prior  to  that  time  the 
gill  net  fishermen  were  paid  so  much  pei  fish  rogardlesa  of  size,  although  two  lish 
under  a  given  weight  (22  pounds)  were  re<|nired  to  count  as  one  full  sized  tish.    The 


24G 


HULI.ETIN    OF    THE    UNITED    STATES    FISH    COMMISSION. 


practice  of  selling  fiali  by  weight  caused  no  discriuiination  ajjainst  the  smaller  ftsli, 
wliicli  now  luiii},'  as  nmcli  per  pound  as  the  larj^or  ones,  and  led  to  the  use  of  nets 
witli  snialicr  nicsli  with  a  view  to  increase  the  catch  by  taking  the  flsli  which  might 
otlicrwise  go  tliroiigh  tlit;  nets  without  giiling. 

Tlu^  iiK^n-ase  in  tlie  use  of  small  meshed  gill  nets  may,  to  some  extent,  be  gauged 
by  the  additional  quantities  of  blueblacks  and  steelheads  taken,  and  in  future  an 
jiHgmented  catch  of  these  flsh  by  gill  nets  may  be  expected. 

Tlie  following  detailed  statements,  showing  for  three  years  the  <laily  catch  of  four 
gillnet  fishermen  fishing  at  the  mcmth  of  the  Columbia  River  and  landing  their  catch 
at  AsUiria,  are  interesting  as  indicating  the  daily  fluctuations  in  the  run  of  salmon 
and  because  they  afford  a  basis  for  comi>arisons  with  other  years.  The  figures  were 
.selected  from  the  books  of  the  salmon  canner  to  whom  the  fish  were  .sold,  for  the 
special  reason  that  the  men  fished  more  or  less  regularly  each  year  and  their  work 
represents  the  capacity  of  the  river.  In  1892  the  fish  are  designated  by  number;  in 
the  following  years  the  figures  represent  pounds.  The  statement  for  ISOi  comes  up 
to  June  2(t,  the  time  of  the  writer's  visit. 

statement  of  the  daily  gill-net  catch  of  four  fishermen  ftshingat  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia  Sivar  in  189S. 


Date. 

No.  1. 

> 

0.2. 

No.  3. 

No.  4.     1    Total. 

1 

1 

A-o. 

j 

No. 

1 

i 

3 

i 

1 

6 

1 

s 

1 

* 

1 
a 

i  1  1  i 
11:1 

1 
1 

No. 

1 

No. 

Apr.  12 

16 

No. 
lb 

No, 

No. 

No. 

No. 
1 

No.  ]  No. 

No. 

■  1 

No.  j  No. 

No. 

16 

17 

9 

7 

18 

IB 

22 

15 

28 

2 

17 

..'.v.'.'.'.'-'-'. 

::::: ;:;.;; 

1 

19    .'  i 



20 i 

7 

1  I 

1 



21 0 

.....  

9 

S 

13 

23 '          0 

6 

20 

4 

27 15 

28   .   ' 

7 

...  . 

15 

* 

29  2 

1 1 i 

Total 

May  2 

78 

1 

U 

48 

1. 

21 

1  1 

151  j   1 



i'TT 

' 

1 
8 

1 

1 

5 
22 

2 
U 

2 
16 
23 

a 

4 

20 
43 



3 

4 

,4 

1 

j 

1 

1 

5 

6  

13 

i       1 

1 

3 

I 

10 

1 

7 

10 

11 

12 

7 

1 

( 

B 

[ 

1 

1 

; 

4 

1 

I 

IS 

1 

i:i 

14 

18 

17 

U 

3 
5 
13 
13 

3 

11 
26 

i 

1 

1 

1  '   1 

12 
13 

;■;::::::::::::; 

28 

4 
12 

SO 
28 
47 
45 
S7 



10 

20 

21 

2a 

24 

B 

18 

8 

27 

7 



26 
3'. 

6 

10 

18 

to 

10 
16 
7 
11 

63 
88 
50 
Rt 
59 
103 

25 

28 

27 

2R 

30 

31 

Total 

17 
28 
44 
8 
IB 
24 

1 

I 

21 
0 

23 
24 
43 
12 

27 
0 

32 
16 

51 

I""': 

1 

282 

HI 

313 

1 

UK  1   1 

1  .   <U1     9 

1 

NOTES   ON   THE    FISHERIES   OP   THE   PACIFIC   COAST. 


247 


lalk'r  fisli, 
ise  of  uet.s 
lich  might 

be  gauged 
future  an 

tell  of  four 
their  catch 
I  of  salmon 
gures  were 
)1(1,  for  the 
their  work 
number;  in 
4  comes  up 


'Aver  in  1S9S. 


Statement  of  the  daiUj  gill-net  catch  of  farjitner)    n  Jinhinii  at  the  mouth  of  the  Columhta  Hirer 

in  IS9:,'~Ci>nUnuMl. 


tal. 

i 

i 

J 

1 

yo.\ 

No. 

1 

- 

1 

•-! ' 

1    1 


....1 1 

.. 

..... 

...... 



1  

i 

',      2 

T"^' 

Dst«. 

No.  1.           1 

No.  3. 

No.  3. 

Nu.4. 

Total. 

i 

e 

S 

1 

JV«. 

1 

i 

i 

• 
» 

A'o. 

a 

6 

a 

1 

s 

s 

A'o. 

i 

No. 

i 

s 

S 

1 

a 

s 

A'o. 

1 

i 

1 

J 

S 

A'o. 

No. 

No. 

No. 

No. 
15 
12 

,Vo. 

No. 
24 
27 
14 
IS 

A'o. 

18 

30 

14 

8 

Vo. 

.Vo. 
57 
102 
28 
32 

2 

3 

43 

2 

3 

* 

5 

B 

6 

7 

g 

32 
14 

:n 

38 
55 
73 
61 
137 
83 
72 
40 

a 

35 
48 
50 
83 
15 
61 
58 

24 
55 

1 

1 

9 

10 

15 

30 

33 
38 
55 

.::..':::..! 

35 
27 
17 
17 
13 

1 

1  1 

11 

13 

18 

39 
60 

U 

15 

Ifl    

SS 
11 

33 
16 

1 
3 

::::: 

1 
3 

3 

17    

4 
g 

is 

17 
18 
21 
5 
35 

8 
8 

18 

2(1 

22    

23 

9 

8 
18 

1 

"i' 

1 

1 
3 
7 
3 
5 
4 

34 

25 

4 

3 

0 

1 
3 

1 
3 

} 

1 

1 

18 
6 
7 

28 

3 
1 
1 
2 

24 

25 

20 

. 
10 
23 

1 
1 

3 
3 

27 

28 

1 

3 

67 

1 

8 

85 
14 
87 
68 

3  1    13 

28 

29 

U 



37 
26 

80 

Total 

J°'y  J 

20 
286 

2 

2 

" 

1 

2  1      3 



4 

8 

271 

1 

10 

416 

1 

13 

960 

13 

1.333 

6|    44 

0 

20 
19 

4 
3 

20 
41 
79 
i. 
15 
37 
31 
78 

116 
91 
«3 

146 
34 
88 
30 
43 
43 

4 

5 
5 

17 
17 
31 

3 
? 

S 

57 
U 
8 

« 

4 

8 

33 

3 

B 

6 

7 

1 

8 

1 

39 

1 

7 

g 

11 

io 

6 

4 

«9 

5 

1 

6 
8 

1 

41 

41 

7 

44 

78 
8 

48 
8 
7 

10 
8 
9 
6 
5 

■••• 

1 

3 

•I 

31 
43 
11 
14 
18 
15 
37 
10 

'.'..'.. 

3 

30 

5 

1 
6 
5 
11 
3 

9 . 

11 

12 

2. 

1    17 

1 
2 

I 

1 
1 
4 
2 

3 

13 

U 

15 

IC 

I 
SO 

1 
3 
3 

3 
1 

•  ■  ••  - 

3 
1 
4 

1 

1(1    

K 

20 

21 

22 

I 

14 

1 
1 

11 
3 

18 
27 

4 

1 

J 

18  ! 

t 

U 
6 

43 
39 
34 
30 
55 

1 

23 

26 

28 

27 

2S 

15 
0 

7 

1 

1 

31 

3 
1 

15 
15 
14 

15 

'I 

1? 
8 

57 

447. 

1 

1 
1 

3 

" 

I 

38  1 



18 
63 
88 
113 

1 

2» 

30 

31 

Total 

Aiiif.    1 

23 
11 
55 

15  1 

1 

1 

,      3 

,,., 

10 

'    i 

::  .  ■■  1 



• 

82 

347    1     30 

242  j 

8 

445  i 

17 

1.481 

30 
53 
43 

9 
24 

5 

i  '" 

-       1 

4 

25 
17 

; 

■ 

2 

3 

4 

B 

6 

5 
8 
2 

31 
23 

1 

10 
7 
9 
8 



1 

::;::""2' 

ii 

::::::::' 

X 

Total 

Grand  tut«] 



— 

1 

20  ' 

» 

* 

71 

07   1 

183 

3 

38 

1.011  1      4 

1 

39 

639 

f     ' 

.9 

1,288        2 

36 

1,040 

3 

3,978 

• 

135 

248 


BULLETTN  OP  THE    UNITED    STATES   FISH    COMMISSION. 


Statement  o/  the  daibj  ijiU-net  catck  of  four  finhernun  JiHhitnj  at  (he  month  of  the  Columbia 

Itiver  in  J89S. 


Dnte. 

So 

1. 

No.  2. 

No.  8.          j          No.  4. 

Total. 

Chi- 
Duoka. 

Steel- 
bead*. 

Chi. 
nooks. 

Steel- 
heailn. 

CIM-    1  8t««l- 
iiooka.  1  heada. 

Lb:   I    Lb: 

Chi- 
nook*. 

U: 

Stenl 
heada. 

Lb: 

Ohi- 
nooks. 

Steel- 
heads. 

Apr.17 

18 

22 

24 

25 

26 

27     

Lbii. 
303 

LbK. 

Ul. 

Lb: 

Lh: 
303 

80 

22;) 

5U8 
1117 
175 
318 
405 
813 

Lb: 

id' 

i"' 

8U 
72 
392 
107 
175 
187 
317 
287 

80 

1 

69 
OUi 

82 
86 

1 

131 

2o 

88 
358 

28 

Total 

10 

168 

1 

1.92U 

160 
270 
632 
Ul 
120 

20 

458 

614 

2,892 

20 

M»y  1 

,     .      .. 

, 

138 
221 
408 

259 

657 

901 

1,3IH 

141 

4U6 

141 

411 

388 

1,010 

602 

1,270 

570 

1,031 

905 

1,246 

1,142 

2,555 

1,  314 

1,262 

1,316 

430 

508 

643 

3,051 

946 

411 

25 

id' 

id' 

2.....;:.!;.. 

100 

855  1 

278' 

8 

4 

B 

*6 

27 

310 
141 
373 
•22 
516 
111 

20 

6 

g 

38 
266 
425 

62 
105 
251 
583 
390 
424 
472 
120 
173 
398 
518 

0 

10 



69  j         20 
71    

465  ■ 

IW    

227  j 

12 



55 

oU 

92 
66 

13 

inH  : 

15 

10 

33 
155 
•><<5 

,B 

m 

1,027 
738 
266 
258 
150 

16 

17    

180    

158    

152  1 

83  ! 

48  j 

127    

418 

221  '   

18 

10 

284    

152    

1,326  1 

355  1 

472   

124  1 

20 

22        

23 

24 

25 

65 
17 
37 
117 
466 
244 

26 

238  \ 

549  i 

014  i 

221    

313 

57 

100 

258 

27 

29 

1,914 

30 

31 

167 

Total 

! 

7,479 

5 

2,778  i          10 

8,845 

5,  564              40  1  24.  066 

65 

10 
10  : 



10 
10 
10 

20' 

70 
90 
40 
10 

id' 

20 

40 

40' 

10 

56 

1,036 

Tit 

io' 

156 
164 

9: 

75 

10 



222 
569 
408 

434 

1,769 

1,221 

75 

214 

764 

561 

447 

97 

621 

405 

220 

fiOH 

2 

6 

6 

214 
833 
382 
161. 

7 

J6' 

431 

?79 
278 

97 
140 

82 

8 



8 



10 

12 

431 
299 
229 
373 
777 
7(rt) 
105 
3B1 

10 
10 
10 

w 

30 
10 
40 

50 
24 

13 

U 

16 

53 
223 
150 

82 
157 
205 
300 

41 

16 



65    

.'106            20 
6U1              00 
140    

i    1,222 

20  1    1,373 
20  1    2,  271 

1     l.OIB 

17 

19 

1,076  ! 

471  1  - 

20 

21      

123 
200 
113 
136 
141 
128 
39 
K 
52 

10 

498 
158 
87 
136 

621 
440 
237 
502 
506 
r:i2 

22 

82 

23 

57 
184 
124 
116 
823 
111 
154 



id 

io' 

, id' 

■U 

46    

70  1 

108  j          20 

26 

171  !         20 
180  i          10 
VM    

27 

28 

132  1 i     1,090 

175  i         20  j    1,246 
281  : 672 

2tt 

1      m  1       10 

'         85            10 

30 

Total 

7,561 

:         190 

4  050             '">       ^  ^^f^           1-t'i 

1  778  '         lui  .  iu  Q??; 

420 

Stal 


'  Blaabsck. 


NOTES    ON    THE    FISHERIES    OF   THE    PACIFIC    COAST. 


249' 


Statement. of  the  dailji  gill-net  eatck  of  funr  fishermeit  fithing  at  the  mouth  of  the  CoUim'ia 

Uiver  ill  IS9,'I — Continued. 


55 


10  I 
10 


Date. 

Ng 

.  1. 

No.  8. 

No.  3. 

Mo.  4. 

Total. 

Chi- 
nook*. 

Steel- 
head*. 

Chl- 
nooka. 

Steel- 
beads. 

Uui 

Chi 
nooka. 

150 

337 

Steel- 
heads. 

Chi-    1  Steel- 
nooks,    headx. 

Chi- 
nook*. 

Steel- 
head*. 

July     1 

Lbt. 

ZtB 
387 

Lbt. 

Liu. 

53 

220 

60 

i*.. 

Lb:        Lbi. 

MS 

702 

Lbi. 

2 

4 

::::::::    is ;:::::::: 

1, 122 
60 

5 

149 



149    

20   

36(1  1 

5(6  ' 

361  ' 

6 

20l 

70  ' 

10 

21 
55 
92 
128 
189 
276 
370 

104 
121 
121 
110 
50 
323 
472 

162 

;i«o 

40 
18D 
140 

68 
144 
141 
007 

ia7 
;m)7 

295 

001 

168 

38 

71 

391 

046 

11 

1 

J2        

110 

142 
217 
183 
338 
80 

VJ        

661  i 

14 

15 

17 

18 

KO  ! 

i,3;io  j 

221  1 

19 

26:t 
250 
120 

:::::::: 

100. 

6II- 
164 

27 
665 
214 

89 

74 

1,2^'' 
495 

2U 

58    

112    

I 

21 

703  1 

4.18  ■ 

1,610  , 

524  ' 

AKI  ; 1 

22 

i»e 

287 
50 
68 
46 
168 
408 

24 

06 
92 
418 
447 
104 
679 

::::::*  * 

25 

26 

27::::::.:;:. 

«:i8 

28 

29 

30 

:::::;::    m 



85  ! 

2,118  

31 

298 
4.62» 

i«n  1 

1,315 

680 

1    2,362 

Total 

1 

3,274 

23& 
311 

438 

518 

87 

300 





7,088 

285 
248 
364 
304 
258 
1.8:12 
872 
680 

3,684 

248 
102 

87 
356 

78 
404 
490 
103 
116 

46 

1  18,576  1 

j      1.22.1     

Aug     1          

462  1 

2 

118 
40 
461 
280 
860 
665 

6i;i 

8S 
86 





H(»    1 

3 

929 
1  KlU 

4 

6 



j     '6«i)i 1 

:      2.  811.1     1 

7 

8 

6110    





2,427  1 

1,186  i 

660  ' 

197    

9 

10 

909. 

74    

U 

j         65 

Total 

Grand  total. 

3,085 

2,823 

30 

4.617 

2,117 

12,842  j 

24,674 

215 

13,983 

25,636 

130 

13,657 

120 

•77,850 

495 

Statement  of  the  daily  gill-net  catch  of  four  fithermen  fi»hing  at  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia- 

River  in  JS94  (to  June  20). 


10 
10 
10 

M 
70 
90 
40 
10 


10 
30 
40 

"«t 
10 

iao 


Date. 

No.l. 

No.  2. 

No.  3. 

No.  4. 

Total. 

Chi- 
nook*. 

Steel 
head*. 

Chi- 
nook*. 

Steel- 
head*. 

Chi- 
nook*. 

Steel- 
head*. 

Chi- 
nook*. 

Steel- 
head*. 

Chi-    i  Steel- 
nook*.  1  head*. 

Apr   10    

Lb*. 
196 

IA». 

hbt. 

U: 

£61. 

Lbi 

Lit. 

Lb: 

i»j.   1    Lb: 

196' 

185   

112  ! 

262. 

106  ! 

4M  i 

372    

297  j 

703  j 

1.156  1         10 

107  i 

552    

210    

12 

186 

13 

iii 

253 

14.          

16. 

166 

IIW 
350 

17 

352 

37 

18 

22 

19 

297 
297 
654 

21 

io 

91 
66 



316 

547 

23 

24 



107 

25 

290 

262 
57 
71 

26 

i63 

27 



71 

61 

.161 

28 

61 

20 

361 



Total 

1 

'\ 

2.711 

10 

229   

2.060 

297 



6,293 

10 

250 


BULLETIN   OF  THE   UNITED   STATES   FISH   COMMISSION. 


Statement  of  the  daili/  gill-net  caloh  of  four  fishermen  Jinhing  at  the  month  of  th*  Columbia 
litre)-  in  1SS4  (to  June  SO) — Continued. 


Date. 

N0.I. 

No.  2. 

K0.3. 

No.  4.         !         Total. 

Cbi 
nooks. 

Steel, 
hewli. 

Clil 
nooks. 

Lbt. 
48 

Steel- 
hosde. 

Chi- 
nook 8. 

U: 
550 
248 

Steel- 
huadii. 

Olii- 
nooka. 

Steel.  ;    Chi. 
heads.  '  nooks. 

Steel- 
head*. 

Lbi. 

5 

Liu. 
1,5S 

tu. 



Lb>.. 

Ui. 

JLb: 
260 

Lbi. 

Lb: 

1,013 

337 

231 

•^  2 :"";;.'.": 

89  ; 

3::.:::::::: 

1 

152 

79 

lift 

25 

18 

4 

1 

... 

183 
105 

301 

405 

907 

30 

^» 

1.015 

l.!>49 

6»7 

45:1 

6 

2Sa 

eu4 



25':::::::; 

7 

8 

2»5 

30 

180 

9 

i         1>78 

10 

275 
KM) 



137 

70   

120  

49    

292 
6U1I 
138 
130 
533 
78 
62 
185 

311 

H 

2:17 
172 

12 

267    

5 

15 

188 
245 

::::::::     m 

18      

778  1 

380  i 

17     

fiio  

240    

104    



18 

312 
298 

218 
67-2 

841     

19 

■    1.319    

21 

1,1113  j 

678  1 

1 

525    

1,165 

i     1.438 

io     4.14!          io 

32 

124 
297 
254 

802  1 

207  i 

132  ! 

480  i         22 

197  1 

j 

;81 

144 
462 
195 

314 

4flO 
125 
284 



iw'  ; 

25 

495  1 

159  1 

lis' 

485  i 

!   2,622  !       22 

62-' 

Kill     

26  

28  

29 

227    

907  1 

30  

324 

324    

31       .. 

444 

411    

820 

535 

2.  mil 

Total          • .  - . 

6  725 

?9 

4,497 
345 

7,059 

5,350 
459 

15     2:),  840  {          37 

360    

340 
IS 

2 

1,010 



1,025  ' 

3  

4  

489 

80 

ROl   1                     1 

5 

6  

403 

305 

708  1 

o50 
290 
608 
142 
525 

7 

344 
390 
249 

1,025 

628  j 

633 



1.803  > 

8 

9 

11 

12 

874   

1,572 

113  1 

128    

40    

238    

346  '           0 

5,53 
1.016 

345 
1,632 
1.010 
2,320 

1,736 

3,248 

435 

1,143 



0 
12 
20 
43 

60 

.18 
U 
14 

13 

14 

15 

" \ 

18  

285 

308 

1,711 

'    Jm' 

•  1,260' 

12 
29 

31 

32? 
10 

99 

547 
184 

887 

355 

i2' 

22 

6 

1,248  1 

85  i 

930 

42S 

510 

37 
201 
841 



180  i 

898            20 
234  1         11 

1 

19  

20 

304 

14 

i 

*  Tlluelmck. 

The  ftreat  iimltiplication  of  pound  nets  iu  the  lower  Coluuibia,  especially  in 
Baker  Hay  aiul  uround  Sand  Island,  is  a  feature  of  the  .saiinou  fisheries  which 
impresses  a  visitor  very  fonibly.  The  nets  form  such  a  maze  on  the  Washington  side 
of  the  river  that  it  seems  impossible  for  salmon  iMitering  the  river  west  of  Sand  Island 
tx)  escape  capture,  and  it  would  appear  that  access  to  so  many  nets  is  cut  ofl  by  the 
lines  of  other  nets  that  a  large  proportion  of  the  traps  would  fail  to  pay  expenses. 

A  Washington.law  requires  that  each  trap  set  in  the  waters  of  the  State  shall  be 
licensed.  In  1803,  4(»0  traps  were  licensed  ta  fish  iu  the  Columbia  Iliver,  of  which 
442  were  in  Baker  Bay.  In  1804  tlie  number  was  410,  of  which  .'{87  were  in  the  bay, 
as  I  am  informed  by  ]Mr.  James  Oiawford,  the  fish  <'oiiimissioiier  of  Washington.  Mcst 
of  t'aese  are  owned  iu  Oregon  and  are  properly  credited  to  the  fisheries  of  that  State. 
T'je  law  also  retpiires  tiiat  a  space  of  800  feet  be  lefi"  between  each  line  of  traps  and  a 
space  of  at  least  50  feet  between  the  bowl  of  one  net  and  the  leader  of  the  next. 

The  catch  of  chinooks  in  pound  nets  is  larger  than  in  any  other  apparatus  except 


May 


J  mil' 


NOTES   ON    THE    FlfHERIES   OF    THE    PACIFIC    COAST. 


251 


HI  Ma 


eel- 
ud*. 


.b: 


22 


fiill  nets,  and  the  diinook  is  by  far  the  most  valnabh^  .species  taken  in  the  poiiiula. 
More  blueliacks  tiian  tthinooks,  however,  are  .secuied  in  pound  nets  some  seasons,  the 
yieUl  of  the  former  usually  beint?  larger  than  in  any  otlier  forms  of  nets  except  wheels. 
The  catch  of  steellieatls  is  always  larf:fer  in  pound  lu^ts  than  in  otiier  aj)pliance8. 

Tlie  quantity  of  .salmon  taken  with  .seines  is  less  than  with  any  other  important 
form  of  apparatus.  The  number  of  seines  used  is  relatively  sniiiU,  and  the  invest- 
ment in  this  kind  of  Hshiufj;  apparatus  is  insi^rnitieant  compared  with  that  in  fiill  nets, 
pound  nets,  or  wheels.  In  ordinary  seasons  more  ehinooks  than  any  other  species  are 
caught  in  seines,  although  in  seasons  when  there  is  a  jiarticularly  heavy  run  of  blue- 
backs  in  the  river,  as,  for  instance,  in  I8i)i',  the  eatcii  of  l)ln<'i)a(ks  is  largest.  The 
number  of  seines  used  on  the  Columbia  is  usually  about  forty,  most  of  which  are 
operated  in  the  lower  river  near  its  moiitii. 

The  following  iigures  represent  the  results  of  a  seine  fishery  in  the  lowerColuiir 
bia  in  1892,  1S'.)3,  and  1894,  the  record  for  the  last  year  being  incomplete,  in  the 
first  year  the  lishing  season  was  from  April  20  to  August  11.  lu  1893  seining  opera- 
tions did  not  begin  till  June  M.  The  figures  are  given  to  show  the  variations  in  the 
catch  of  ditferent  species  from  month  to  month  and  the  relative  (piantities  of  each 
taken  by  this  means.  The  catch  of  this  seine  is  larger  than  the  average  for  the  river, 
being  124,353  pounds  in  1892  and  G(j,(i73  iwuuds  in  1893. 


87 


statement  of  the  dnilij  catch  of  chinook,  sticlhcad,  and  hlinbuck  salmon  in  a  Heine  fmhed  at  lirowngporl 
Sands,  opposite  Pillar  llock,  Columbia  liivcr;  iu  ISOJ,  IHUS,  and  IS'.U  {to  Jane  1). 


9 

12 
20 

43  I 

60 

M 
U 
It 


especially  in 
heries  which 
shington  side 
'Sand  Island 

lit  oft'  by  the 
'  expenses. 
■?tate  .shall  be 
iver,  of  which 
re  in  the  bay, 
iugton.  Most 
(jf  that  State. 

if  traps  and  a 

le  next. 

laratus  except 


Date. 

1892. 

1893. 

1894. 

ChlDooks 
(lionndB). 

Blue- 

kaoka 

(pouuda). 

Steel. 

head* 

Ipouuda). 

Chinuoks 
(pounda). 

Blue- 
backa 

(IMllludB). 

Steel- 

heada 

(pouiidn). 

Chlnooka 
(IMiunda). 

Blue- 

backa 

(pounds). 

Steel- 

liradu 

(pounda). 

AprU20 

22 

26 

28 

27 

501 
452 
407 
340 

286 
211 
104 





155 

i'io 

49 

:::::.;:..: 

1 



123 

67 

17 

28 

29 

ao 

Total 

May     8 

&.'.'.'.'.'.'.'. 

6 

7 

g 

670 
312 
788 

279 

j 

200 
394 

j 



1 

3,470 

2, 073 


1 

278 

187 

66 

; 

310 

894 

i.w- 

791 
1,035 

373 
071 
635 

lis 

1,064 

i 

248 

06 

96 

47 
203 

1 



M 

_  _  _ 1 

,.  ..    i ] 

78 
1^ 
105 
200 
137 

121 
480 
616 
644 
616 

8- 

16 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

U 

15  .  . 

62d 
1,144 
1,734 
l,4i;i 

058 
1, 1B7 

537 
l.O,^ 
1,920 
1,704 
1,  327 
2,711 

i 

i :::;■ 

V 

1 



1 

i::., 

327 
190 
308 
411 

912 

1,062 

752 

270 

* 

16 

18 

19 

20 

21 

23 

24 

2S 

J7 

623 
402 
378 
401 

:,  138 

305 
730 
780 

244 

278 
218 

71 

16 

506 

597 

47 

38 

116 

ioo 

109 

94 

ii 

118  I 

1 

299 

94 

85 

28 

Total 

June     7 

9 

10 

11 

227 

22 

1 

16,354 

14, 234 

I 

3,238 

5,653 

543 

1 

160 

473 

1,010 

473 

He 

i ._ 1 

30 

IU 

1 

62                 64 

113                     62 

i 

i     

1 

252  lUILLETlN   OF    THE    UNITED   STATES   FISH    COMMISSION. 

Staiimeiit  of  the  daily  catih  of  chit.ook,  nteelUmd,  and  hlurhack  salmon  in  a  trine,  etc. — Coutiniied. 


DiiU). 

1803. 

1893. 

1894. 

(Jhinonka 
(poiiuds). 

Illue- 

backB 

(IMiuniU). 

.     81 

luo 

129 
166 
342 
610 
385 
452 
722 

Slw.l- 

hi'adH 

(pouiiiU). 

58 

35 

63 

126 

832 

77 

314 

260 

255 

81 

42 

85 

ClilniKikB 
(]>oiiD(lnh 

lOun. 

ImrkH 

(pouoUif). 

nine            .Sleil- 

liacks           hewla 

(pouuUs).  j  (poimda). 

Juno  13 

U 

15 

17 

628 
6U3 

<m 

U12 

2, 32* 

UOU 

i.one 
es7 

1,033 

1  . 

::::::::::::::::::::::  :::::;;;:::';::::::::::i 

1 

20 

ai 

1 



1 

1 

24 

25 

1 

i 

! 

•i* 

i«» 

37 
138 

32 
72 

t 

298 
:io2 

19:1 
102 

175 
220 

1 

::::::;:::::::::::. :;;:.;;;:;;::;:i 

Toliil 

July      1 

3         *  * 

'          i 

10,  807 

3, 312 

1,017 

6110 

385 

305 

1... 1 

! 

458 
7»9 

11 

234 
250 

279 

203 

152 

1         





;..... ."  1..:: .::;;: 

m- 

505 
752 
318 
389 
480 
628 
1,092 
850 
725 

6«g 

436 

i:m 
94 

37 

27 
103 

04 
118 

f)0 

on 

43 

184 
299 
421 
5U8 
613 
2.'l 
146 
645 
521 
526 
570 
442 

! 

4 

6 

« 

7 

8 

tu 

1,565 
404 
376 
280 
224 

m 

67 

302 
208 
225 

287 
173 

:::::;:;:;::::::::::  i::;::::::::i 

■ 



::;::;;;:;:i;:::;::::: 

1 

j 

< 

11 

776 

105 

:::::::::::::::;::;:;:  ::::;:::::'i 

1 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

574 
405 

728 
1.504 

253 
199 
211 
773 

1 

1 

'1 ;■■■■ 

.:;;::;    l::::::::'":::::::i 

685 
787 
801 
850 
9<l5 
1,376 

3 
5 
14 

403 
303 
374 
311 
S38 
414 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 

863 
3.880 
2,542 
l.KOS 
1.586 
1,077 

212 
1.294 
1,278 

032 
1,213 

496 



35 

: 



4.108 
.3,744 
2. 0U7 
1, 202 
2,169 
1,208 

1,057 
593 



25 

\ 

! 

26 

27 

1,708 



1,867 

931 
480 
374 
212 

■; 1 ::*"* 

1 

28 

29 

30 

31 

487 
2,  339 
7,410 

587 

587 

2, 212 

119 

1,858  1 

1 

601 

j 

Total 

31,8:18 

229 

13,458 

29,542 

1,321 

11,761 

2,258 

2,920 

881 

844 

304 

269 

22(1 
71 
106 

38 

209 
366 
155 

3 

4 

5. 

6 

7 

3.777 
3,048 
2,  6:1s 
2,570 
2,1»4 

742 
1.542 
1,:i8» 

7B7 
1,437 

315 
13 

1.421 
3,058 
1,618 
1,080 
1,«09- 

223 
201 
105 
248 

:w9 

40 

8 

9 

1,BS2 

1. 129 

301 

600 

609 

1,235 

[ 

10 

11 

Total 

Uraiiilliital. 

1,325 
610 

239 
345 

19.011 

7,590 

16,  743 

"  1,990 

3.936 

i 

1 

81.540 

10.848 

22,965 

46,^:3 

1,706 

16,002;         3.516            5.740 

aos 

iao  quaiuii'it'H  Hiiowii  lu  mm  coiuiud  lor  auKani.  rDifrvai'iii  aiiiau  uniiiouK  saiiuuii,  musiiy  iiauer  4  pounns  in  weigni, 
nnd  are  not  iiicludwl  in  1I10  grand  total. 

The  following  table,  relating  to  tlie  year  1893,  and  applying  to  that  part  of  the 
( 'olniiibia  Kiver  adJiioiMit  to  Astoria,  shows  by  nionth.s  the  immber  of  different  kinds 
of  salmon  taken  by  certain  gill  nets,  pound  nets,  and  seines,  respectively,  the  entire 
catch  of  which  was  landed  at  a  cannery,  from  the  books  of  which  the  figures  were 
drawn.  The  fish  here  shown  are  the  same  as  those  whose  average  weights  &re 
recorded  in  anotiier  place  in  this  report. 


Dctc 
ren  and 
presentei 
wlicflls  O] 
river  wlu 
is  about .' 
(Jelilo, 

The 
the  owne 
<laily  cat( 
iiiid  one 
lor  detail 
and  the 
tishing. 
vohiine 
iibiindan 
vajiiabk 
salmon  m 
The 
inclusive, 
these,  IG," 
latter  ha 
'file  largi 
l.<i77,  in 
he  used, 
ivcalled 
hUieback 


NOTES    ON   THE    FISUEUIES   OF   THE    PACIFIC    COAST. 


253 


'able  showing  the  monthly  catch  of  chinook,  bluehaek.  and  Hteelheiid  nalmon  in  a  certHin  number  «/  ijill  nrti, 
pound  nets,  anil  HeiniH  employed  at  the  mouth  of  the  Cnlumhia  Hirer  in  IStiS, 


Montbk. 


April ... 
M..y.... 

Juno 

July.... 
August. 


Total  . 


Olll  nets. 
(April  17  to  August  10.) 


Niiin. 

ber 

of  not* 

used. 


Number  of  flsb  tiikaii 


lit 

160 
lOS 
168 
136 


Chlnooks. 


lllue- 
backs.  :  beiuls. 


Voiiud  lifts. 
(April  17  to  August  10.) 


Mum 
ber 

.I'JSl  !  Total.    ••,';,'J«f  I  Chinook.. 


Kuuiber  of  Hsh  taken. 


6,409  I 
23,468 

2'.',  WW 
15,  Bl" 
U.  H»2 


2 

16 
»1 


18! 
17 

.111 
847 
617 


6, 420 

at,  501 

22,610 
16,  767 
l:i,  !>39 


40 

7,1  I 

75  1 

75 

75 


418 
1.793 
3,350 
6,5.10 
3,10» 


Blue-     Html- 
backs,    heatis. 


208 
1,7»2 
,1,466 
l.KUl 


.11) 

207  i 
4, 137  , 

10.031 
2,  305  ! 


Total. 


6H3 
3,  7112 
12.  0,13 
18.  382 
5,414 


80,604 


2,010     82,846  j 


15, 218  I    0, 167     Id,  73S  i  41, 224 


Months. 


April.... 

May 

June 

July 

August . 


Total. 


Seines. 
(June  20  to  August  10.) 


Nuin-  Number  of  lish  taken. 

ber  of 

seines    f,,,,,,-.^,  i  Blue-  i     Steel- 
used,  j  l-hluooks.  ^y„„^^  ;    Leajg. 


158 
6.889 
2,872 


413 


426 
5,827 
1,555 


Total  iiumbrr  of  lish  tiiki-ii. 


ni.i«»AT...       Blue-        Steel-        ,p„4.i 
(.hlnooks.    y^^^_     h^^,^       rotol. 


813 
12. 129  I 
4,427  I 


6,826 
25. 261 
25,518 
28,356 
18. 873 


8, 019 


M2  i       7,806 


17,369  ; 


104,881 


210 

1,808 
5,786 
2,217 


10,021 


77 

224 

5,074 

16,705 

4,507 

26,687 


7,112 
27. 20:i 

■n9, 376 
47,  278 
23,380 

141,430 


Detailed  statisiiex  for  Hnlmon  iohceh. — Tlirongh  the  coiirtosy  of  Mr.  Fiaiik  Jf.  War- 
ren and  Dr.  .lolin  Willianisoii,  of  I'orthind,  Orcg.,  tlie  following  dt'tailcd  data  are 
])re8ented,  showing,  for  u  i)eriod  of  years,  the  daily  catch  of  salmon  by  certain 
wheels  operated  at  the  (Cascades  of  the  Columbia,  which  is  the  lowermost  part  of  the 
river  where  the  use  of  wheels  is  possible.  The  number  now  operated  there  aiiiiiially 
is  about  35,  and  about  2.S  more  are  eini»loyed  in  the  upper  river  at  The  Dalles  and 
(Jelilo. 

The  following  figures,  which  have  been  drawn  from  the  records  of  Mr.  Warren, 
the  owner  t)f  the  wheels,  show,  for  a  series  of  eleven  years,  terminating  in  1894,  the 
tlaily  catch  of  each  kind  of  salmon  in  tnie  wheel  fished  on  the  Oregon  side  of  the  river 
and  one  on  the  Wa.shington  shore.  The  catch  of  the  wheels  in  tiuestioii  was  .selected 
tor  detailed  jircsentation  because  they  were  operated  coiitiiiuously  during  each  season 
and  the  yield  reinesenta  the  jirodnctive  capacity  of  that  part  of  the  river  for  wheel 
lishing.  Thenncertaintiesattendingthe  prosecution  of  thisti.shery;  the  iufiuence  of  the 
volume  of  water  on  the  catch;  and  the  daily,  nmnthly,  and  annual  fluctuations  in  th»! 
abundance  of  the  ditterent  salmon  are  well  exhibited  in  the  tables.  The  data  are  al.so 
valuable  for  the  comparisons  that  may  be  made.  Separate  figures  are  given  for  the 
.salmon  weighing  20  jiounds  tu-  more  and  those  weighing  less  than  20  yiounds. 

The  aggregate  catch  of  the  two  wheels  in  tjuestion  during  the  years  18H3  to  ],Si)4, 
inclusive,  was  S04,(i'.)3  marketable  salmon,  as  shown  in  the  following  summary.  Of 
these,  ]63,52(i  were  chi nooks, 5<Hi»,l 83  were  bluebat'ks,  and  >  1,984  were  steelheads.  The 
hitter  have  only  iwently  come  into  use,  and  the  ttatcli  is  not  reported  jirior  I o  1887, 
The  largest  number  of  ti.sh,  namely,  1-34,144,  was  taken  in  188«i;  the  smallest  number, 
1.1)77,  in  18!)4,  while  in  1880,  owing  to  the  htw  state  of  the  water,  the  wIkh'Is  could  not 
be  used.  The  catch  of  chinooks  was  larger  in  1884  than  in  any  other  year;  it  will  be 
ncalled  that  the  acme  of  the  canning  industry  on  the  river  was  then  attained.  The 
blueljack  yield  was  largest  in  188(i.    The  biennial  character  of  the  run  of  this  lish,  of 


264 


UULLE'lIN   OK   THE   UNITED   STATES   F18II   COMMISSION. 


wliidi  nuiiitioii  it*  «'lHe\vlHMt'  iiiado,  i»  well  illiistruted  by  thcHc  H^ures.  On  coiii]mriii(r 
18.S1,  1S«(),  1HH8,  IH'IO,  and  IKOL'  with  IWH't,  ISH,"),  1887,  ISJH,  and  1H<)3,  it  ai)pt'ars  the 
catili  (Iminjj  the  I'oriner  scries  was  .'U1,L'.').'{  fish,  and  diiiin^f  the  latter  24(i,8iSl  lish. 

^'Hmmui'j/  uf  the  yi'urly  valcli  of  aaliiion  in  liio  irhefh  localiil,  renpeclively,  on  the  Ihregon  and  1f'a»hin{ilon 

»ldm  of  the  Colnmbio  Jliver,  at  the  Viuoadet. 


Teun. 

Chtnooki. 

Xumber. 
20.908 
27,902 
12. 049 
13.641 
21.984 
11.996 

IlliiDburka. 

Xumbtr. 
75. 121 
83.219 
.'.O.  208 
120.503 
80.  MM 
40,978 

HUielheMls.' 

ToUI. 

1883 

Xumbtr.  \ 

Numbtr. 
06,029 
111,12! 

71.257 
134. 144 
107,506 

59, 079 

1884  . 

1885 

1 

1886 

1887   

5,356 
6  105 

1888 

1889 

18(10 



23. 161 

4.080 

12.  .'.72 

14.670 

5,54 

163.526 

74.410 
10.448 
22.  134 
21.018 
1.049 

8.004 

I..V.7 

14.074  i 

16.724  1 

74  ; 

10.5.674 

16.004 

48.780 

53,382 

1,677 

18M 

180;' 

1891 

1894 

Total 

589, 183 

51,  984 

804,693 

*  Not  uMliiMl  prior  to  1887.     The  flali  caught  were  giv<>ii  iiwny. 

The  folUtwing  tables  illustrate  the  monthly  variations  in  the  abundanee  of  ehi- 
nooks  and  bluebaeks  during  each  of  the  year.s  mentioned.  The  largest  cateh  of  both 
tish  is  obtained  in  -lune;  in  April  and  August  the  yield  is  inBigiiitlcant. 

Slulemnil  of  the  iiiimhir  of  chiiiook  i,r.!!iiin  taken  iv mihlij  in  two  irheelii  loititid,  mpeclirelii,  on  the  Oregon 
and  ll'anhinglon  aideii  of  the  Colnnihia  liieer,  nt  the  CaiivadcH,  from  JSS.I  to  //^!/4,  inclusive. 


Ytan. 

April. 

May. 

June. 

7.393 
1,5.303 

7,102 
11.427 

7.305 

0.  .'>9:i 

July. 

Augnat. 

Total. 

1883 

5,ai7 

3,787 
3.123 
410 
3.228 
2.666 

8,458 
8,722 
1,824 
1,804 
11,271 
2. 725 

20,908 
27, 902 
12, 040 
13,  641 
21.084 
11,906 

1884 

1885 

1880     

1887 

90 

1888  

12 

1H89 

18'.»    

13. 331 
1.072 

281 
1.487 

620 

8,970 
2,878 
7,008 
8,710 

a5l 

139 

4.  3.59 

3.912 

'■ 

23, 161 
4.089 
12.  572 
14,670 
654 

1891 

1892 

24 
553 

1893  

8 

34 

1894 

Total 

54 

34,962 

83. 778 

44.065 

607 

IWl.  520 

Statement  of  the  number  of  blueback  lalmon  taken  monthly  i»  two  wheel)  located,  respectively,  on  the  Oregon 
and  Washington  sides  of  the  Columbia  Hirer,  at  the  Cascades,  from  1SS3  to  1894,  inclusive. 


Yeora. 

April. 

May. 

June. 

July. 

August. 

Total. 

1883 

5.108 
4.  3.50 
5,206 
2,161 
5.283 
4,281 

59.  621 
65. 302 
42,717 
111.40U 
;i8.  644 
31,014 

10,  .192 
13,477 
11.195 

fl.942 
36.3:11 

5.496 

75, 121 
83, 210 
.59.  208 
120.503 
80.166 
40.078 

1884 

1883  

1S80 

* 

H87 

1888 

187 

1889 

1890 

88 

12. 170 
1.022 

0.  203 
1.783 

1.  030 

54.  670 
7.583 
11.334 
12.  515 

7,4K5 

94;t 

4,591 
7,544 

74,419 
10,  448 
22. 131 
21.  938 
1,049 

1891              

1H92     

8? 

1H9J     

12 
10 

1894 

Total 

1 

297 

49,902 

434.790 

m,i04 

90 

.589. 183 

Tlis  maximum  height  of  water  shown  in  the  tables  was  .30  feet  8  inche.«  in  1804. 
Shortly  after  that  i>oiiit  was  reached  the  wheels  were  washed  away,  and  the  water 


omiMirinp 
(jH'iirs  the 
.1  iish. 

n'aihinglon 


NOTKS   ON    THE    FISHERIES   OK    THE    PACIFIC    COAST. 


255 


iiico  of  clii- 
itcli  of  both 


,  on  i.he  Oregon 
nvlusice. 


I/,  <iH  ihc  Oregon 
iiiliitive. 


rontimiod  to  rise  till  Juiki  S,  wIumi  it  iittaiiu'd  a  ln'it;lit  of  41  iWt  !>  inclies.  Tlic  lo\v»'«t 
water  ri'conl  WHS  10  fi-et  (»  iiuilu-.s  at  tiic  Itcj-iiiiiiim  <»f  flio  Hca.son  of  1.S!».'5.  Very  fow 
ti.sh  coui])arativcly  are  takcu  when  the  water  is  niider  15  feet  IiikIi-  Tlie  poorcHt 
season,  wlicii  tlio  Hsliiiifj  was  not  siis|MMuh'<l  on  account  of  to<t  low  water  or  too  high 
water  (as  in  IS.Sl)  and  \ii\H),  was  in  18!)I.  In  that  year  the  niaxiiniiin  hei^jht  of  water 
was  only  1!)  feet  T)  inches,  and  only  during  the  lirst  ten  days  in  .1  line  was  the  water  over 
n>  feet.  In  1.H.S4,  the  best  year  for  these  wheels,  the  water  was  over  20  feet  dniin;;  the 
entire  time  from  .May  20  to  .Inly  S.  In  188(1,  when  the  moat  bluebacks  wer<^  taken,  th^ 
water  was  L'O  feet  or  over  from  May  27  to  .lune  .'JO. 

The  following  tables  give,  in  detail,  the  daily  catch  of  the  wheels  referred  to: 

Slahmieiil  (if  Ihv  daily  vulrh  of  Halmon  in  tiro  wheih  loratiil,  iinpevlinlji,  on  Ihii  Oreijon  and   If'tiHhlniiton 
sides  of  Ihc  I  'ulumbia  Hirer  al  the  CnHiadm,  with  a  nvuril  of  the  hiiijht  of  water  ahuve  hir-watvr  mark. 


iKihep  in  1804. 
md  the  water 


Date. 

Height 

oT 
water. 

Sinilll 
cliinmikn. 

I.iirK" 
uhinookH. 

Xumbtr. 
0 
6 

2 
3 
2 

14 

78 
167 
208 
214 
1311 
115 
244 
245 
273 
231 

Oregoo. 

Wnslilngtoii. 

Ul<i« 
backri. 

Xumber. 

85 
58 
21 
32 
45 
91 
224 

Rtecl- 
head!. 

Total. 

Small 
t'liiiiuiikii. 

Xumbtr. 

I^ariie 
cliiiiuoks. 

Xumber. 

Kliie. 
backa. 

Xumter. 

su.«i. 

bunds. 

Total. 

1883. 
.Mny  14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
28 
29 
3U 
31 

Total . 

Juo«    1 
2 
4 
S 
6 
7 
8 
9 
11 
12 
13 
14 

Ft.  In. 
19     0 

W     4 
21      3 
21      6 
21      8 
21    10 
21      9 
21      7 

21  6 

22  0 
22      7 
22    10 
22      3 
21    10 

21  10 

22  2 

Xumbtr. 
45 

28 

It 

20 

52 

62 

230 

25!) 

252 

IIW 

176 

178 

232 

250 

237 

236 

Xumbfr. 

Xumber. 
136 

95 

36 

55 

99 

170 

538 

788 

790 

fl.'.7 

674 

007 

714 

9fl» 

802 

1.0fl;l 

Xumbtr.  \  Xumber. 

' 

( 

4 
9 

22 
38 
63 
48 
38 
72 
71 
53 
M 
52 

10 

20 
39 

88 
123 
109  j 

i:i8 

80 
259 
289 
227 
214 
228 



38 
«2 
81 
104 
77 
37 
174 
192 
155 
144 
168 

4 

4 
12 
13 

5 
13 
20 
19 
14 

8 

3110 

330 
2.13 
3118 
3IU 
238 
■!74 
392 
576 

2,482 

1,941 

8,808 

8,291 

1.137 
1,100 
076 
1,920 
1,8.12 
2,436 
2,080 

2,  769 
1,403 
2,939 
4,510 
4,  302 
2,558 
4,310 
4,  522 

3,  140 
2.643 
2,215 
1.479 
3,453 

959 
1,101 
1.  130 
1.114 

616 

118 

1,240 

1,87( 

22      3 
22      3 
22     4 
22      2 

22      1 
22      1 
22      1 

22  2 

23  2 

23  9 

24  4 
24      7 
23      9 
23      8 

23  11 

24  1 
24      2 
24      3 
24      0 
23    11 
23    10 
23    10 
23    10 
23      0 

229 
130 
(2 

m 

50 

96 

88 

109 

81 

62 

112 

145 

131 

78 

146 

122 

107 

176 

56 

121 

64 

55 

73 

113 

244 
208 
104 
111 
102 
144 
118 
180 

ai 

81 
140 
101 
131 
205 
210 
202 
212 
113 
l,i9 
116 
55 
82 

664 

768 
820 
1,700 
1,080 
2.190 
2,4811 
2.404 

57 
43 
40 
23 
45 
46 
51 
U 
48 
44 
59 

It 

4 
22 
11 
11 
24 
24 
32 
36 
13 
30 

184 
224 
500 
288 
608 
536 
527 
090 
204 
296 
616 

267 
271 
022 
822 
604 
006 
002 
772 
348 
863 
705 

1,237 
2,790 

4,288 
4,110 
2,2116 
4, 03U 

18 

,56 
70 

24 
30 

503 
04b 

683' 

754 

19 

20 

4.166 
3.816 
2.204 
1,800 

21 

i j           " 

22 

24 

68 
GO 

00 
67 
80 

72 
79 

0 
16 
12 
26 
17 
18 
13 
21 

296 
308 
408 
330 
328 
384 
272 
290 

23 

.. 

442 
480 
452 
412 
482 
3B7 
396 

25 

1,204 

3,216 

840 

1,024 

!<84< 

924 

!            26 

27 

28 
29 
.10 

Total. 

July     2 

!              3 
4 
5 
6 



2,541 

3,268 

50,98;) 

50,792 

1, 178. 

400 

8 
19 
18 
14 
6 
9 
19 
20 

8,638 

10,222 

23      9 
23      0 
23      6 
2;i      3 
22    11 
22      6 
21    11 
21      S 
21      1 
20      9 
20      5 
:'0      1 
19      4 

172 
162 
285 
325 
853 
366 
113 
225 
206 
25- 
2?0 
212 
105 

99 

i:i3 

279 
38* 
337 
335 
210 
292 
204 
177 
166 
188 
61 

784 
752 
8.-12 
880 
903 
832 
368 
560 
504 
368 
424 
464 
204 

1,0.V> 

1.047 

1.396 

1,580 

1,6113 

1,533 

6U1 

1.077 

904 

802 

810 

864 

430 

72 
1(10 
88 
55 
32 
16 
28 
30 

108 
160 
208 
136 
104 
80 
64 
56 

248 
286 
314 

205 



141 

106 
111 

106 

9 

10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
16 

28 
44 
20 
32 

18 
33 
29 
51 

40 
40 
10 
10 

8« 

119 
05 
99 



^66 


BULLETIN   or   THE    IJNITKD   STATES    PISH   COMMISSION. 

Stalemenl  of  the  daily  laick  of  aalmnn  in  liim  wheelf,  etv, — Cuntiuiinil. 


Date, 

Ilslubt 

of      1 

Oncoo.                                1 

Hnmll 
chluooki. 

Sumber.  ' 
77 
66 
00 
40 
22 

Waahlngt4>n. 

Hniall 
oblnookn. 

LariiP 
RhIniNika. 

III 8t«>l 

backa.        liNUla. 

Total.    ! 

1 
l/umbtr. 
529  1 
827 
661 
284  , 
141 

LiirKo 
chinmikn. 

ItlUK 

Imckid. 

lieaila. 
A'umW. 

Total. 

1883. 
July  17 
18 
19 
20 
31 

Total 

( i  rand 
total. 

1884. 
Mav    12 
13 
14 
16 
10 
17 
19 
20 

?i 

^l 
20 
27 
28 
29 
30 
31 

Total. 

June    2 
3 
4 
6 
6 
7 
9 
10 

11 

12 
13 
14 
10 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
23 
24 
25 
20 

n.  in.  1 

18    11 
18     6  1 
IH     0  , 
17      5 
17     0  1 

Xumi*r, 
155 

Numbtr. 
IK 

184 

488 
307 
146 
1U2 

Kumbt. 

Xuinber. 
70 
89 
09 
53 
43 

Numbir. 
18 
IS 
24 

8 
H 

S'umb»r, 
IW) 

171 
153 
107 
•,J 

179              i7.'i 

86 
91 

53 
8 

3,060 
8.083 

3,401 

9,2:13 

16,288 

822 
2,610 

575 

1, 160 

2,687 



8,610 

64,083 

8)  .'178 

1,0M 

11,038 

14,663 

■ 

1 

53 
91 
32 

2 
8 
2 

48 
68 
IS 

102 
155 
50 

16  9                  06  1                 3 

17  8                123                    5 

18  1                  40  '                 2 
18      3               101  1                7 
18      6               179                 10 

ieo 

210 
88 
312 
388 
204 
10(1 
HO 

228 
344 
130 
480 
677 
621 
427 
218 
283 
226 
49« 
545 
315 
436 
240 
241 
382 

24 
33 
76 
72 
41 
82 
52 
104 
130 
124 
36 
24 
28 
28 

2 
2 
4 
3 
3 
1 
1 
11 
17 
8 
4 
2 

33 
24 

88 
80 
72 
72 
04 

68 

58 
108 
154 

no 

105 

117 

223 

241 

2U0 

80 

42 

78 

94 

19  5               237 

20  1                248 

21  0                124 

21  9               122 

22  3                90 
22      5               247 

22  9              241 

23  2  .            154 

23  9               180 

24  6                90 
24     10                72 
24      9              100 

20 
V.) 
14 
9 

10 

152 
I'iO 

17               232 
40               204 
25               I.'IO 
34               210 
15               138 
U  :             100 
2               280 

108 
88 
08 
40 
18 
48 
64 





2 

2.491 

241  1        3,360 

6,098 

981 

71 

984  1 1        2,039 

24      0  ;           221 
24      2              423 

24  8                408 

25  4  !            18U 

25  10  I           173 

26  3  1           202 
26      8              270 
2»      7               284 
26      7               32» 

23 
77 
80 
70 
00 
95 
70 
84 
120 

344 

744 

004 

432 

701 

7.12 

1.184 

1.640 

2.708 

1,776 

2,096 

1,788 

2,592 

3.344 

3.994 

3,080 

2,  752 

3, 440 

2.984 

3.032 

2.0.10 

1.560 

1,992 

2.9:6 

1.488 

588 
1,244 
1,458 
082 
943 
1,049 
1,536 
2,008 
3,218 
2.241 
2,390 
1,993 
2,854 
3,809 
4,691 
4,421 
3,343 
4.027 
3,431 
4,  362 
2, 524 
1,034 
2,414 
3,626 
1,931 

138 

220 

124 

78 

48 

66 

100 

130 

120 

160 

84 

4 

80 

52 

232 

296 

248 

142 

1.16 

196 

72 

152 

104 

164 

240 

22 
32 
28 
21 
0 
11 
21 
42 
37 
70 
25 

i:iO 
258 
216 
232 
204 
130 

398 

508 

388 

331 

321 

203 

333 

408 

663 

850 

600 

63 

640 

397 

1,007 

1,805 

1.540 

782 

830 

1,270 

4112 

1,519 

714 

1,160 

1,213 

200 

228 

490 

624 

400 

48 

440 

320 

712 

1.408 

1  238 

570 

050 

1,010 

416 

20      9 
27      3 
27      2 
20     11 
20      9 
20      6 
20      2 
25      9 
25      8 
25      6 
2.')      6 
25      4 
•a,     4 

350  1            109 
232               08 
103               42 
210               62 
343              122 
400              231 
475               206 
359               232 
395  1             192 
319               128 
511               219 
318  1            120 
2)8  i             110 
284  !             138 
382  1            208 

9H1    1                !«•' 

20 
25 
63 
101 
00 
64 
;<8 
07 
4 
47 
18 
30 
77 

i,:i2fi 

592 
900 
890 

27       s.'S      3 



28 
30 

Total. 

July     1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
14 
15 

ToUl. 

Granil 
total. 

24    11 
24      2 

7.883 

3. 1:i4  1       51.000 



62,623 

3.378 

998 

13,  786 

18, 162 

23-   10 
23      6 
23      1 
ti      7 
22      1 
20    11 
20      4 
19    10 
19      2 
18      0 
18      4 
17      4 
17      0 

315 
254 
474 
417 
514 
459 
484 
330 
307 

266 
294 
331 
304 
280 
22.5 
169 
130 
11)9 

1,266 
736 
984 

1.248 
900 

1,003 
882 
580 
301 
485 
245 

1,847 

1,284 

1.789 

1,969 

1.754 

1,687 

1,536 

1,049 

977 

849 

420 

146 

.56 

168 

260 

228 

240 

228 

134 

92 

04 

52 

90 

92 

120 

124 

02 
50 
02 
35 
37 
70 
01 
80 
25 
17 
20 
32 
60 

544 

050 

072 

708 

786 

238 

200 

160 

112 

64 

88 

48 

00 

774 
9H1 
962 
1,043 
1,001 
412 
353 

1:54 

Hi9 
171 
'JOO 
206 
270 

201   1             103 
120  >               49 

. 

32  i              15  1              99 
8  I               2  i              40 

1 

3.981  1        2.277  j        9,096 

16,353 

1,904 

600 

4,382 

6,8401 



14,356 

5,652 

64,007 

84,074 

0,206 

1,629 

19, 152 

27,  W?  1 

, 

Data. 


1888, 
May  II 
12 

13 
14 
16 
18 

18 
19 

20  ! 
21 

22  I    , 

23  j    i 

25  I    ; 

26  I     1 

27  ) 

28  I     : 

29  I      I 

30  I     1 
ToUl.l... 

June    1  I    1 

a     I 

8  I    I 
4 

5 
6 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

t!i 

10 

17  1 

"*  i 

10 

20 

22  1    2i 

I  23  !     Ju 

j  24  I     2(J 

25  {     2IJ 

20  :     20 

27  I    20 

29  ; 

30  ! 
Total  . 

J"lv    1  I 
2  • 
3 
4 
0 

7 : 

8  [ 

II  • 
'lolal  :. 


'•riind 
iiital.] 

■  ■■"lO.      i 
M,.v   12  ; 

13  ; 
14 

15 
2(1 
21 
22 

24  I 

25  i 
20  : 
27  ' 
2H 
20, 
31 

■l'"llll.  . 


Ii; 


Total. 


tlnr. 


3,557 


14,863 


2,030 


18, 162 


fl,  845 : 


27,  W 


NOTES   ON    THE    I'ISHKUIKS    Ol"     IIIK    I'AflFIC    COAST. 
Slalfnienl  of  ihr  ilnily  vatch  nf  tatmon  i'h  tiro  irhftU,  «<c.— ContiniiPil, 


•ifj? 


llolglit 

of 
water. 

Oragoa. 

,  .. 

Wiwliliigt«n, 

Uftte. 

Rninit 
rtiliiiMika 

Sumlttr. 

13 

B 

7 

12 

11 

36 

70 

28 

110 

IM 

lOfl 

122 

40 

56 

8 

4 

4 

2 

801 

L«rg* 
rhlnouk* 

.Viim»«r, 

BIu* 
tack*. 

bMdi. 
Numbrr. 

Total. 

Hmull 
rhinunkii 

Urge 
I'liinooki. 

.Vt4in5>r. 
2 
5 
3 
2 
2 
2 
3 
2 
5 
12 
18 
24 
24 
14 
13 
0 
8 
7 

Itlue- 
bavke. 

Xumbtr. 

.50 

134 

84 

88 

6t 

,56 

76 

41 

116 

152 

14) 

108 

104 

184 

360 

153 

134 

108 

m 

138 
128 

132 

no 

176 

8t«el. 
hewU. 

Total. 

Xuii^r. 

77 

IHHft. 
Muy   n 
1" 

ft.    in. 
16     0 
10     6 
16      7 

16  0 

17  4 

18  1 
18      0 
18      0 
18      8 
18      6 
18      7 
18      0 
18       7 
18       3 
17     11 
17      8 
17     a 
17      8 

Numl>«r. 

101 

138 

114 

88 

188 

S7S 

844 

318 

4.33 

834 

858 

480 

138 

138 

78 

8i 

83 

73 

Knmbtr. 

203 
140 
I.U 
KM 
180 
416 
423 
350 
567 
803 
7B0 

eao 

174 
201 
85 
88 
88 
78 
S,2S8 

03 

155 

383 

4V0 

345 

771 

621 

812 

004 

1,040 

1,280 

1,558 

734 

1,711 

6K6 

470 

1,341 

2,008 

2,087 

8,2»6 

2,700 

2,150 

2,511 

2,  370 

Kio 

1.403 

"32,756 

070 

1,105 

880 

8:ii 

OOO 
0,'>8 
833 
582 
384 
2158 
7,806 

45,860 

Xunibrr, 
10 
40 
31 
28 
23 
10 
33 
17 
38 
Ji 
02 
72 
100 
113 
88 
37 
44 
84 

a 
74 

73 

51 
42 
88 
32 
36 
48 
46 
80 
68 
.50 
28 
12 
28 
32 
30 
fit 
116 
52 
56 
52 
02 
78 
84 
1,T^8 

'    88 

08 
40 
20 
32 
40 
22 
32 
20 
32 
433 

A'uiit6«r. 

1 
2 

Its  1 

];i 

111 

U 

118 

1& 

1 
4 
B 
0 
16 
23 
28 
18 
6 
B 
1 

74 

113 

63 

''0 

150 

21 

303 

22 

254 

'•:i 

204 

2S 

328 

20 

310 

27 

340 
IBH 
174 
179 

2H 

i' 

:to 

TuUl  . 

80 

130 

2116 

352 

218 

400 

560 

712 

736 

028 

1,148 

1,433 

558 

1,500 

630 

302 

1,173 

1,713 

1.80S 

2,863 

2,438 

1.027 

2.2.33 

2,123 

063 

1,118 

38,333 

1.008 
686 
037 
768 
811 

m 



i.m  1 

17^ 

17  4 

18  2 
18      8 
IS      0 
IS      0 
10      4 
10      1 
18    10 
18      6 
18      5 
18      6 
10      6 
10      8 
10    10 
10    11 
20      0 
20      2 
20      0 
20      8 
20      8 
20      G 
20      4 
20      3 
20      0 
1010 

12 

IS 
108 

60 
334 

48 

08 

lie 

71 
72 
101 
72 
33 
20 
32 
02 
184 
143 
208 
140 
126 
102 
184 
120 
148 
'2,788 

112 

132 

124 

108 

84 

72 

51 

32 

34 

18 

1 
a 

23 

3(1 

il5 

13 
32 
52 
50 
40 
25 
106 
170 
36 
48 
77 
201 
130 
1,15 
122 

loe 

80 
63 
48 
07 

13 

33 
32 
26 

2(1 
38 
71 
41 
66 
05 
06 
33 
0 
35 
10 
30 
08 
02 
22 
46 
28 
41 
44 
44 



—  -jg« 

2 

338 

3 

237 

4 

103 

5 

250 

0 

248 

385 

2.12 
352 
380 
316 

no 

360 

633 

600 

424 

840 

473 

678 

1, 3.18 

.    1,344 

INI8 

018 

1,1121 

1,520 

006 

038 

14,404 

6118 
448 
472 
608 
458 

'.'M4  1 

;ciii  I 

10 

;ioo  1 

303  1 

u 

12 



386  ' 

l;i 

523 

>5 



754  1 

16 

681 

17 

446 

18 

683 

19 

523 

645  1 

1,368 

'Ki 

1,553 

1,043 

26 

1,020 

26 

1,104 

27 

1,653 

li'> 



818 

30 



1,068 

r»tal . 

1,001 

.7.7...... 

IT,  083 

July    1 
■     2 

10      8 
IB      7 
IS      5 
10      8 
1«      0 
18      4 
18      2 
17      0 

17  3 

18  10 

Si 

55 
76 
86 
48 
75 
34 
10 
16 
8 

^41 
43 
18 

7 

18 
30 
20 
15 

6 

— . 

588 

3 

530 

4' 



635 

0 

504 

7 

608 
353 
430 

668 

8 

748 

304 

g 

534 
3M 
238 

483 

10 

437 

11 

7  !           208 
163  \        4  588 

347 

To(«I . 

7te 

444 

6,807 

j,"2ir 

lininil 
total. 

4,844 

3,81ft 

SB,  201 



8,058 

12 
8 
8 
8 
4 
20 
18 
4 

16 
5(1 
40 
28 
18 
4 

1,435 

20,007 
53 

36,807 

66 
48 
32 
20 
21 
01 
84 
03 
40 

165 
03 

136 
68 
28 

iHse. 

Mnv   12 

12     4 
12      8 

12  0 

13  8 

13  0 

14  3 
16      2 
18      6 
18    11 
10      5 
30      6 

21  6 

22  0 

23  11 

'     13 



40 

14 

24 
12 
15 
80 
8) 

88 

15 

20 

. 

2 
3 
4 
1 

21 

:;::::::::i"-"::::: 

22 

24 

16 
12 
12 

16 
28 
28 
20 

a 

4 
2 

187 
145 
183 
128 
100 
326 
303 

186 
101 
107 
144 
2:12 
361) 
327 

25 

24 

20 

4 
2 
3 
2 

111 

27 

51 

05 
40 

28 

5 
0 

4 

20 

31 

24 

'I'otal . 

. 

132 

24 

1,451 

1,807 

234 

20                710  1 i             064  1 

I 

F.  C.  B.  1804-17 


2r>8 


HULLKTIN    nV   THK    UNITKI)    KTATKH    KI8H    (.'OMMIBHION. 
Stalemtnl  of  Ihe  dally  ratrK  of  lalmoH  in  tiro  whtelif  *te, — Continnml, 


1 

nrlllil 

iiT 
wat«r. 

Orf'Kuu. 

Waablnftm. 

1 

Snmll 
ehliHMika. 

lfumb*r. 
62 
88 
116 

152 

;kki 

102 
116 
106 

248 
240 

Ifta 

14ft 
212 
204 
330 
200 
214 
177 
310 
408 
440 
342 
470 
188 
224 
346 

Ijirao 

rbiiiiHikii. 

tlumbtr, 
10 
IS 
44 

71 

114 

77 

OU 

71 

100 

103 

62 

64 

1311 

129 

138 

110 

68 

82 

138 

200 

168 

132 

144 

34 

62 

130 

HI  no 

l>H4'ka. 

54« 
480 

S8:i 
578 
886 
890 
671 

Hlaal- 
hrod*. 

Aumtif. 

Total. 

Hraall 
ohtnooka. 

Lari* 
Khinooka. 

SmHt4r. 
12 
10 
18 
34 
84 
14 
14 
38 
71 
21 
24 
28 
48 
38 

HIiiK.         8lMl. 
baokt.       Iiaadi. 

Xiimbtr.    Numttr. 
44   

Total. 

m 

n.  tn. 

24  4 
14      0 

21  11 

2ft      3 
2ft      6 
26      U 

26    a 

M      9 

26      0 

20  H 
26      6 
26      U 

25  4 
24     11 
24      0 
14      0 
23      6 

22  H 
22      3 

21  10 
21       6 
21       3 
2U      0 
2U      0 
20      2 
20      0 

Numkir. 
•14 
(W 
T4S 

m 

1,010 
1,168 
847 
1,708 
8,680 
8,187 
3,(01 
3,  (SO 
6.l«l 
0,001 
(I  HI 
8,(14 
8,188 
8,034 
8.400 
•,04S 
4,735 
S,S0O 
4,748 
3,3(4 
IMl 
1, 078 

Xumbtr. 
10 
4T 
70 

181 

IM 
60 
44 
48 

136 
8« 
83 
80 
73 

IM 

76 
18.1 
340 
888 

376 

166 

] 

M    

18U    

21S    

ft 

218  i 

7 

\n ' 

« 

190     

338 

s 

1,437 
2. 101 
2.  844 

1.  284 

2,  749 
4,810 
6,360 
7,044 
8.444 
8.  851 
7,775 

144  ' 

127 

10 

800    

1,0T.I 
888 
M 
1,417 
1,(B3 
3,4(8 

480    

12 

871  1 

]4 

l,;nj  1 

1,486  1 

2,804  1 

17 



!".: 

21 

IM 
83 
(4 

130 
106 
8<< 
80 
(( 
52 

81 
48 
33 
113 
73 
SO 
80 
80 
80 

1,972 

1  g4H  ' 

8,189 

1.(88 
1,628 
1,127 
1,611 

876 
1, 136  i 
1,080  1 

847 

22 

7.S4A 
S,  437 
4.117 
4, 820 
4,128 
2,  ISJ 
1,157 
l,6U2 

1^1 

1  StlH    

24 

H88  1 

1,432  i 

7H2  1 

1,008  1 

BI2   

486    

ToUl. 

10     11 
19     0 
19      S 
18    11 
18      t 
18      4 
18      1 
17      9 
17      8 
16      6 
16     3 

6,138 

232 

284 

228 

SU 

4 

20 

48 

12 

2, 474 

91.234 

100,110 

1,807 

918 

10  166 

21,9811 

' 

July    1 

100 

72 

66 

26 

6 

9 

6 

17 

837 
837 
547 
2.V'I 
187 
2-.M 
171 
125 

1,388 
1,103 
841 
880 
197 
280 
225 
154 

76 
02 
82 
24 
44 

4 
33 
25 
20 

8 
12 

40 

B7 

35 

13 

18 

1 

6 

6 

3 

B 

1 

812  i 

0,17  1 

927  I 

8t:i| 

233  1 

ftlO 

818 

310 

247 

ISlit 

83: 

83' 

778  1 

3 

000  ' 

.    5 

• 
7 
( 

0 

10 

216    

456    

812    

272    

216    

136    

12 
13 

40 

40    

Total 

888 

302 

3,268 

4,488 

410 

105 

3,874    

4,288 

... 

Grnid 
total 

7,lft8 

1,800 

78 

100,911 

3,880 

1,133 

IN 

23,  ftftO    

37,233 

15  8 

16  B 
16      6 
16      ft 
16      0 

16  11 

17  0 
16      9 
16      S 
16      0 

16  S 

18  8 
15      ft 
1ft      0 
10      0 

17  2 

18  10 
21      0 
21      ft 
21      0 

21  10 

22  11 

23  11 
25    11 
27      3 

1887. 
May     2 
3 
4 
B 
7 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
16 
17 

178 
78 

1 

j 

54         

72  1 

07 
187 

3IU 

4:'8 

720 

2:17 

3.10 

<M] 

620 

2771 

93! 

691 
122: 

m\ 

36' 

20; 
111 

72 

3 

10 

108 

73 

38 

80 

108 

360 

518 

110 

lie 

181 

208 

188 

4 

20 

44 

40 

24 

12 

8 

4 

20  I       

04  1 

150    

a 

12 

278 
10! 

298 
114 

118  i 

1 

1 

68  1 

78    

24 
72 

80 
84 

104 
188 

mo  1 

3 

3 

1 
1 
3 
2 
2 
7 

170    

200    

120  ' 

.. 

232    

10 
20 
21 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
30 
81 

' 

271    

68 
108 
52 
68 
83 
120 
111 
48 
24 
12 

2 
12 
8 
10 
10 
14 
20 
4 
8 
2 

56 
487 
222 
184 
213 
236 
159 
346 

64 

126 
707 
281 
262 
300 
370 
2S0 
208 
93 
38 

410 

112  ' 

83 



1 
6 
2 
3 

48 

72 

40 

40    

24    

12 

24 

8 

022 

1 

89 

2,671 

3,682 

2,180 

31 

2,612  1 

4,82(! 

1 

^         1 

ll.'ll, 

1  >l4ll<. 

III' 

wall 

1887. 

n.  < 

IIIIK      1 

28 

6 

',u 

7 

110 

8 

20 

9 

20 

10 

28 

11 

28 

13 

28 

14 

28 

1ft 

20 

16 

28 

17 

.10 

18 

31 

20 

32 

21 

31 

22 

31 

2ft 

I  27 

18 
29 
30 

■Intnl. 

.Inly  1 
2 
4 

S 


23  I     31 

24  31 


31 
31 


31 

80    1 


30 
28 
20 
28     1 


6 

28 

7 

28 

8 

28 

U 

28 

10 

27    ; 

11 

27 

12 

27 

13 

20 

14 

20 

IS 

29 

10 

2ft 

18 

21 

19 

23 

20 

22 

21 

21     1 

22 

21 

23 

21 

2ft 

20 

20 

10     1 

27 

19 

28 

to 

20  : 

18     1 

Iiital 

Am;;.    1 

(irniiil 
total 

1HK8. 

A|.f.  20 
27 
28 
30 

1  "Inl  . 

Mav     1 


18 


18 


12 
IS 
13 
12 


12 
12 
12 
13 
13 
14 
14 
15 


Nv  TE8   ON   THE    K18HKKIE8   OF   THE   I'ACIKIC   COAST. 
SlattmtHl  of  tht  ilailf  calch  i>J'  salinuH  in  /no  irhetU,  rfc— ('onliniiiid. 


259 


Total. 


\b4r. 


Kumbtr. 
7(1 
IM 
240 

hhh 
;i7() 

366 
3.18 
227 

i,o;;i 

598 

M» 

1,417 

t,C53 

a,4M 


1,139 

l.tMl 
1,625 
1,127 
1,611 

876 
1,  i:ili  { 
l,U59i 

617 


21,981  I 


«a7l 
927 
813 
253  I 
519  I 
818 
310 
247 
158 
53 
53 


4,288  1 


27,233! 


M 

72 

29 

74 

258 

189 
97 

157 

304 

438 

720 

2.17 

350 

458 

620 

277 
»3| 
091 

1221 


M 
20 
13: 

"TeaTi 


Hnlcht 

iif 
wairr. 

Hiiiall 
rlilncMilia. 

Numb*r. 

Large 
oliliiuoka. 

Jfumttr. 
I 

OngDH. 

WMhlagton. 

Ihilh. 

Bine-        8tMl- 
baokt.      bewU. 

Total. 

Sumhtr. 

B7 

48 

147 

!I83 

662 

l,A23 

1,476 

1,413 

983 

l,U6:i 

1,8:18 

2.  42B 

718 

60 

1,40« 

3.634 

2,200 

2,377 

3.486 

2,7«g 

3,638 

3,706 

4.477 

Hiiiall 
rliilliMika. 

Sumhtr. 

liMfKH 

rliltiiHika. 

iiiiii-. 

biu'ka. 
yUmbrr. 

HIkcI. 
hiwU. 

Numbtr. 

Total, 

IMT. 

n.  in. 

28  10 

;<i     7 

110      2 

29  7 

29  2 
28      9 
28      a 

28  9 
W      1 

30  4 

29  8 

30  3 

31  11 
82    10 
33      4 
33      2 
33      1 
33      1 
33      5 

32  a 

33  0 
31      7 
30    10 

Numb*r. 
M 
41 

111 

son 

B3tt 
708 
999 
820 

ooe 

1.4311 

Kumbtr, 

Ifuminr. 

Nu)i%btr, 

6 

6 
34 

72 
100 
22:1 
412 
470 
224 
440 
206 
348 

84 

2 
10 
20 
48 
43 
173 
88 

16 

ia 

43 

88 
207 
187 
432 
250 

7 

* 
7 
26 
.31 
65 

113 
62 
87 
86 

129 
34 

•1 

40 
74 
116 
164 
94 
79 
190 
274 

1 

H 

4              «« 

7        m 
13        iia 

.16             884 
36             13« 

11 

lu 

11 

13 

14 

15 

64 
42 
64 

it              380 

30                 iOH 

366 
48U 
506 

16 

1,4.'><1 

1,94.S 

OtlO 

5a 

1,472 
2. 5.36 
2. 022 
2. 1169 
2.114 
2.484 
8,384 
3,216 
3.  743 



17 

34 
3 

408 
24 
58 



18 

20 

21 

2( 
4)1 
104 
192 
208 
191 
17B 
800 
480 

22 
2.1 
24 

84 
36 
80 
12 
36 
80 
70 

sa 

33 

37 

673 
448 
0211 

788 
6117 
1,0.17 
278 
820 
747 
653 

25 

27 

10          2fia 

M 

4 

35 
55 

280 
632 
B38 

{            29 

1             30 

'I'ntal. 

4,397 

1,686 

83,884 

3H,966 

953 

3ao 

6,600- 

a,  978 

30      2 

20  6 
29      0 
38     10 
28      8 
28      B 
28      2 
28      1 
27     10 
27      8 
27      1 
26      » 
26      3 
25      9 
25      1 
23     10 
23      2 
22      8 

21  11 
21      6 
21      1 
20      3 
10    11 
10      6 
10      2 
18    11 
18      8 

■Inly    J 

4<M 

428 
312 
332 
314 
348 
264 
228 

196 
180 

98 
119 
100 
110 
108 

83 

4,315 

4,272 
3,196 
3,628 

4,875 
4,886 
S,6U0 
4.079 
3,054 
2,635 
1,870 
1,330 

143 
120 
76 

136 
110 
112 
96 
120 
64 
98 
72 

5a 

56 
72 
60 
100 
28 
18 
32 
8 
48 
78 
37 
36 
.18 
28 
38 

109 
76 
74 

100 
84 
67 
81 
83 
22 
25 
10 
34 
17 
14 
8 
41 
11 
20 
28 
12 
.10 
72 
20 
16 
28 
21 
11 

648 
684 
4U8 
312 
240 
344 
496 
828 
264 
296 
224 
178 
112 
206 
266 
2M 
72 
84 
108 

la 

24 

' 

900 
780 
558 
548 
434 

•  623 
673 
613 
434 
5.51 
414 
3U4 
329 
650 
524 
861 
187 
234 
652 
1114 
462 

1,094 
457 
398 
838 
313 
301 

4 

5 

« 

2.840 
•-',  177 
1,408 
1,028 

7 

8 

0 

76 
84 
132 
108 
128 
144 
IU8 
200 
424 
76 
132 
484 
128 
360 
944 
4IH) 
340 
272 
2R4 
252 

10 

11 

208 
1»4 

60 
152 
110 

80 
108 

72 
272 
344 
516 
380 
276 
212 
144 
220 
212 
204 

86 
80 
20 
26 
10 
12 
54 

;» 

K 
70 
08 
130 
52 
2fl 
30 
44 
54 
36 

6;i2 
577 
224 
040 
508 
480 
781 
204 
224 
210 
4»fl 
.'>3a 
384 
320 
352 
464 
48U 
48il 

876 
771 
:i04 
818 
"0« 
572 
946 
366 
501 
Oiie 
1,110 
1.052 
712 
558 
526 
728 
746 
720 

12 

13 

14 

16 

1            18 

!            19 

20 

21 
22 
23 
25 
2fl 
27 
28 
29 
80 

i     Tutal. 

Au«.    1 

<iraii(l 
total. 

1«.<8. 
A],!.  26 
27 

6,430 

1.H41 

30,775   

39,046 

1,886 

1.114 

5,  .564 

5,  122 

13  686 

18      0 

62 

28 

334 

324 

11,748 

3.  615 

66.330 

81.604 

5,087 

1,633 

13,  8:16 

6,356 

26, 813 



12  1 
18      1 

13  2 
12    10 

44 

«H 
.'>6 
19 

44 

68 
56 
81 

1 



28 

30 

12 

I'ola! . 

12 

187 

190  ] 

' 

Mi.v     1 

12      7 
12      8 

12  B 

13  6 

13  11 
U      4 

14  g 
IB      0 

1 

17 
28 
44 
54 
20 
80 
00 
20 

24 

66 
81) 
132 
40 
64 
2 
32 



41  1 

86  i 
124  1 
1S6 

00 
14S 

66 

62 

2 

t 

i 

3 

4 

5 

.... 

7 

1 

4 

e 

9 

';"' 

260 


BULLETIN    OF   THE    UNITED    STATES   FISH   COMMISSION. 
Slaioment  of  the  Saily  catch  of  salmon  in  two  wheels,  etc. — Continued. 


Date. 

IlKi^bt 
water. 

Oregon. 

Wartiiingnm. 

Small 
chinonkA 

Large 
i-liiiioikn. 

nine-     1     Steel.    1    t.„.  , 
bacn..    1    hc8.1».    i    Total. 

Small 
oliiuooks. 

Lar.^e 
rliiiiooks. 

lilue- 
liackK. 

SU-el- 
lieada. 

Total.    1 

Sumbfr. 
105 

78 

80 
151 

86 
lUO 
160 
189 
210 

94 
144 

08 
2*7 
165 
112 
149 
101 

47 

30 

1888. 

Ur.y  10 
11 
12 
14 
15 
18 
17 
18 
19 
21 
22 
23 
24 

.  ,  25 
28 
2H 
20 
30 
31 

Total . 

JUDU      1 

2 
4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

•  11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 

26 

20 

27 

28 

29 

30 

Tutat . 

July    2 
3 

4 
6 

e 

7 
0 
10 

11 

12 
13 
11 
10 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 

Total . 

Grand 
toUl. 

Ft.    in. 
15      3 

15  9 

16  2 
10      2 

15  10 

16  0 
10      5 

17  1 
17      9 
17      6 
17      4 
17      1 
17      0 
10      8 

in     5 

10      3 
10      4 
JO      9 
17      3 

Number. 
18 
28 
08 
84 
28 
44 
00 
30 
04 
61 
48 
80 
100 
0, 
18 
28 
34 
40 
32 

Xumber. 
2 

iXiimber. 

72 
104 
440 
112 
144 

06 
180 

82 
216 
184 
168 
168 
112 
104 

48 

64 
176 
152 
248 

A'umbtr. 

Ifamber. 
90 

\umber. 
48 
36 
32 
53 
62 
73 
84 

80 
61 
78 
44 
185 
06 
64 
64 
51 
28 
17 

Sutnbfr. 

1 
2 

o' 

3 

8 
fl 
10 
14 
4 

Xumber. 
50 
40 
48 
96 
24 
24 
08 
88 
120 
16 
64 
24 
90 
64 
48 
84 
48 
10 
13 

Xtonber. 

130 
612 
106 
174 
142 
280 
72 
292 
252 
224 
254 
216 
172 
64 
91 
212 
210 
280 

4 

2 
2 
4 
4 
12 
4 
8 
6 
4 
4 

1 

2 
2 
18 
6 

1 
2 
3 



068 

84 

2,  820 

3,872 

1,532 

82 

1,461 

8,076 

82 

139 

73 

110 

229 

31< 

240 

2321 

154  1 

196 

700 

401  j 

381  ' 

1!« 

2i)5 

265 

386 

591 

906 

1,280 

713 

1,006 

l,3i»l 

1,219 

1,446 

17  9 

18  5 

19  7 

20  3 
2d     9 

21  4 

21  9 

22  1 
22      7 
22      9 
22    10 

22  11 

23  10 
23      3 
23      6 
23      7 
23      6 
23      4 
23      1 
22    11 
22      1 
21      7 
21      8 
20    10 
20      7 
20      4 

48 

70 

60 

30 

60 

36 

28 

24 

36 

172 

108 

136 

28 

24 

64 

06 

224 

308 

238 

320 

164 

240 

280 

228 

384 

384 

20 

32 

34 

20 

30 

18 

24 

12 

70 

120 

70 

70 

28 

4 

62 

112 

174 

210 

117 

100 

34 

20 

38 

26 

24 

20 

27i 

34C 

648 

874 

272 

394 

230 

220 

396 

406 

8U 

606 

958 

176 

292 

484 

880 

1,030 

1,510 

1,917 

1,904 

1,634 

2,826 

2,686 

1.8.i4 

1,  8811 

1,37' 

28 
88 
9 
6 
11 
0 
15 
14 
10 
17 
85 
13 

'I 
15 
20 
02 
56 
48 
55 
52 
90 
88 
88 
64 
108 

6 
6 

48 
96 
64 
104 
216 
308 
210 
216 
144 
172 
Cll8 
384 
368 
102 
178 
224 
304 
496 
702 
1,144 
692 
856 
092 
704 
550 
6.32 

440 
284 
216 
304 
176 
168 
360 
860. 
662 
328 
752 
120 
264 
388 
672 
632 
992 
1,582 
1,574 
1,316 
2,  38t> 

2 
2 
9 
2 

7 

20 

4 

6 

1 

8 

10 

20 

23 

26 

28 

21 

26 

19 

25 

24 

26 

11 
11 

16 

30 
63 
48 
124 
202 
404 
512 
680 



2,308 

1,  Olio 

1,4'»2 

068 



3, 708 

1,485 

20,500- 

25, 783 

980 

321 

1U,514 

2, 181 

14,  WIS 

19      7 
19      8 
18    10 
18      7 
18      5 
18      1 
17      6 
17      1 
16      7 
16      3 
15    10 
15      6 
14    10 
14      6 
14      4 
14      4 
14      1 
13     10 

3IU 
348 
316 
272 
288 
ibi 
894 

m 

4 
104 

8 

14 
12 

8 

432 
630 
704 
612 
416 
8C8 
844 
232 
48 
192 

744 
808 
1,032 
702 
714 
408 
652 
898 
52 
102 

20 
63 
511 
44 
48 
40 
12 
10 
18 
6 
8 
4 
4 
4 
8 

» 

2 
10 

'I 
14 

11 
3 
1 
1 
1 
1 

138 
280 
344 
3«« 
240 
170 
5« 
32 
48 
24 
10 

8 
8 

• 

392 
616 
488 
302 
344 
298 
196 
181 
236 
220 
230 
112 
66 
62 
24 
14 
28 
24 

650 
OSU 
89" 
813 
046 

6a 

267 
227 
303 
2M 
275 
132 
6» 
64 
40 
21 
28 
30 

6' 

1 

6 





2.256 

70 

3,724 

6,050 

330 

69 

1,772 

8,924 

6.095 

7,022 

1,639 

27,044 

16, 705 

2,863 

472 

13,9:14 

6,105 

23,374; 

1 

He 

Date. 

wa 

1890. 

Ft 

.Vpr    .30 

n 

May      I 

11 

2 

l.i 

3 

11 

6 

11 

6 

2( 

7 

2( 

8 

21 

9 

■i\. 

10 

2: 

12 

24 

13 

2,') 

14 

2.") 

15 

2.' 

16 

1I.*> 

1; 

25 

19 

25 

20 

41 

2^i 

21 
22 
26 
27 
28 
29 
30 
31 
ToUl. 

.Tune    2  j 
3  ' 

t\ 

?! 
0 


25 
24 
2t 
24 
24 
24 
23 


22 
21 
21 
21 
20 
20 
19 


10  I     10 

11  !     10 


July 


I  i: 


12 1 

18  I 

16  I 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28  ; 
30: 
Total   j 

1  i 

2 

3 

4 

6 

7 


10 

U  i 

12 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

21 

22  ; 

23  I 
I'otal  .  I 

lirandl 
toUl.  ... 


19 
10 
lU 
19 
19 
10 
18 
18 
18 


Total. 


utnber.  | 


a,  IHl 


14,OU5 


302 

SW 

fil6 

OM 

488 

897 

303 

813 

344 

we 

2IH1 

B3 

196 

207 

184 

227 

230 

303 

220 

251 

250 

275 

112 

IJI 

5a 

N 

62 

64 

24 

40 

U 

21 

28 

28 

24 

30 

3,024 

6.095 

I 

e,  105  1      23,374 


NOTES   ON    THE    FI8HKRIES    OF    THE    PACIFIC    COAST. 
Statement  of  the  dailg  cateh  of  lalmon  in  two  wheeh,  etc. — Coiitiuiied. 


m 


Oregon. 

WaahiDKtoD. 

Dat«. 

Small 

Lnrgo 

Hlup- 

Steel- 

Total. 

SmaU 

Large 

Illiir- 

Steel- 

Totai. 
Ifumb4r. 

fhlnookH. 

cbinoukB. 

bai-ks. 

lieada. 

cbinouka. 

cliiiiiioks. 
Xumber, 

bai'ka. 
yumber. 

boa<U. 

1800. 

Ft.  in. 

yumber 

\umber. 

Xumber. 

yumber. 

yumbfr. 

yumber. 

Xumber. 

Apr.   30 

12    10 
14      1 

88 

1 

89 
28 

May     1 

i 

— 

24 

3 

2 

15  5 

16  8 
IB      3 
20      0 
20      8 

1 

66 

208 

312 

272 

96 

57 

208 
336 
298 
118 

7 
14 

15 
24 
20 

89 

72 
64 
80 
45 

1 

77 
92 
81 
M 
68 

3 

6 

2 

2 

6 

20 
24 
20 

4 
2 
2 

6 

7 

1 

8 

21      4 

32 

2 

80 

174 

30 

4 

27 

87 

9 

22  1 

23  2 

24  ! 

25  0 
25      6 
25      7 

25  7 

26  6 
25      0 
25     10 

68 
28 
24 
20 
44 
64 
64 
120 
408 
193 

12 

2 

156 
14 

48 

■i-i 

88 

.56 

72 

136 

328 

984 

236 

174 

71: 

72 

138 

124 

158 

284 

902 

1,403 

8 

4 

7 

4 

22 

28 

47 

128 

318 

244 

1 

10 

20 

21 

8 

16 

10 

21 

58 

144 

162 

28 
24 
29 
14 
39 
47 
74 
212 
668 
478 

10 

12 

1 

13 

4 

e 

4 

22 
28 
168 
226 

2 

14 

i 

3 

« 

26 

104 

80 

15 

16 

H 

IB 

20 

2 

21 

25     ,0 
25      7 
24      6 
24      4 
24      3 
24      3 
24       1 
23     10 

664 
850 
558 
75B 
016 
464 

:m 

6,093 

292 
292 
280 
232 
180 

2B6 
549 
124 
188 
261 
182 
182 
U5 
2,338 

640 

1.'   J 
1,399 
2,  024 
2,479 
2,224 
1.022 
722 
037 

364 
246 
444 

350 
494 
6!0 
202 
308 
3,972 

150 
93 
67 
64 

104 
86 
57 
70 

928 

ir.2 

33 
778 
HOU 
680 
480 
120 
160 
3,836 

~  """48 
136 
2(18 
240 
2.56 
624 

608 

371 

1,287 

1.020 

1,278 

1,100 

409 

538 

22 

26 

1,344 

1,280 

1,312 

376 

162 

162 

8,340 

27 

28 

2U 

30 

31 

Total. 

ie.m 

i 

8,  744 

.June    2 

22     e 
21    10 

21      6 
21       1 
20      7 
20  .    2 

133 
74 

06 
119 
04 
60 

264 
360 

280 
344 
472 
652 

651 
726 
608 
743 
76« 
801 

120 
190 
248 
234 
li>4 
2.30 

28 
66 
82 

103 
03 

144 

190 
398 
512 
581 
488 
1.012 

3 

4 

4 
4 

16 
1! 

4 

6 

6 

7 

9 

9 

19      6 

116 

33 

392 

4 

545 

156 

46 

448 

•0 

««') 

10 

19      5 

144 

68 

488 

8 

698 

148 

77 

088 

LO 

93;i 

11 

1ft      7 

128 

32 

664 

20 

844 

228 

104 

776 

31 

1,  139 

12 

19      9 

136 

72 

690 

^7 

921 

208 

134 

808 

36 

1.180 

13 

19     10 

140 

IOC 

992 

23 

1.201 

161 

88 

760 

32 

1.031 

14 

19      8 

127 

106 

1,080 

32 

1,345 

178 

120 

960 

36 

1,  300 

16 

19      5 

74 

76 

2.232 

24 

2,406 

141 

fi 

1,728 

00 

2,025 

17 

19      1 

90 

<«2 

2,888 

20 

3,040 

116 

S-J 

2,  »i>?. 

44 

3, 102 

18 

10      0 

44 

16 

2,J52 

8 

2,  920 

92 

47 

2,728 

52 

2,niu 

19 

18     10 

68 

11 

2,  4.'I2 

16 

2.  527 

92 

47 

2,618 

64 

2,821 

20 

18      8 

18      7 

288 
2,960 

I? 

32 

300 
3.  Mil 

8 

84 

136 
2, 232 

8 
119 

152 
2  509 

21 

120 

28 

74 

23 

18      3 

64 

14 

2,296 

76 

2.450 

80 

29 

1,280 

180 

1.589 

24 

18      0 

32 

6 

1,336 

48 

1,422 

96 

45 

1.160 

228 

1.  520 

25 

17      9 

4/ 

4 

1,296 

76 

1,420 

60 

12 

1,  1.36 

208 

1,418 

26 

17      7 

'•4 

8 

1.208 

76 

1,336 

36 

7 

952 

133 

1.128 

27 

17      5 

52 

10 

1,088 

88 

1,2.18 

44 

23 

1.120 

176 

1,383 

28 

17      6 

68 

22 

1,048 

124 

1,262 

28 

20 

728 

216 

992 

30 

17      7 

34 

13 
1,203 

86« 
29,384 

92 

805 

995 
34,433 

60 

17 

584 

260 
IM9 

021 

Tou:. 

3,061 

3,188 

1,527 

25,300 
692 

31,970 

July     1 

11     i 

■       72 

14 

1,048 

116 

1,250 

48 

19 

280 

939 

2 

17      2 

32 

10 

776 

112 

930 

46 

10 

416 

256 

728 

3 

17      1 

20 

10 

496 

136 

662 

56 

26 

2B0 

408 

770 

4 

16    n 

28 

10 

376 

208 

622 

24 

27 

.544 

848 

1,243 

5 

17      0 

32 

8 

464 

240 

744 

32 

8 

312 

604 

856 

7 

.16    11 

20 

4 

192 

128 

344 

16 

2 

160 

196 

374 

8 

16    lU 

32 

a 

36() 

132 

526 

12 

S 

152 

292 

461 

0 

16      8 

24 

4 

288 

80 

396 

12 

« 

160 

224 

402 

10 

16      8 

12 

2 

120 

40 

174 

12 

S 

172 

272 

462 

11 

16      7 

12 

16 

80 

40 

148 

18 

7 

80 

236 

341 

12 

1«      4 

8 

2 

88 

25 

125 

12 

7 

56 

160 

235 

14 

15    10 
15      6 
15      4 
14     10 
14      7 
14      3 
13      8 
13      4 
12    11 

8 

32 

8 

48 

4 
4 
4 
13 

1 
3 

51 
16 
40 
«0 
24 
32 
5 
7 
6 

88 

122 

'    90 

104 

84 

84 

18 

12 

4 

148 
1.57 
140 
170 
112 
112 
21 
19 
10 

15 

16 

17 

3 

18 

IB 

4 

21 

22 

23 

I'olal  . 

800 

8S 

4.820 

1,266 

5.907 

83«" 

133 

" "     1 

.3.m 

~47oitr 

7,  too' 

(irand 

total. 

t,4H 

3,633 

42,024 

2.070 

6T,171 

7,4Mt 

2,5M! 

33,385 

6,034 

M,60S 

1                1 

2G2 


BULLETIN 


Hf 

Date. 

w. 

1882. 

« 

?fuy  14 

1 

16 

n 

17 

11 

IS 

r. 

19 

i; 

20 

i: 

21 

1. 

2.'! 

1.^ 

24 

11 

25 

Ih 

26 

21 

27 

21 

28 

1! 

30 

2. 

31 

23 

Total. 

Juno    1 

24 

2 

2; 

3 

ij 

4 

8 

2; 

eads. 

Toul.   1 

1 

umber. 

Xumbtr. 

6 

g 

11 

20' 

1 

"i 

1 

47 

44 

101 

72 

1 

65 

U 

IM 

143 

107 

200 

M 

3 

47 

IM 

9 

1,370 

1 

Ml 

1 

2381 

2 

224 

2 

27J 

2 

20t 

88 

142 

IW 

130 

:< 

99 

2 

145 

6 

239 

17J 

5 

213 

8 

244 

9 

213 

8 

1»1 

8 

183 

8 

lj<i 

12 

•A 

14 

,, 

88 

.5)1 

s: 

»3 


224  : 

"34  ; 
4C  : 

*'>\ 
'7  t 
«7  1 
176  I 
157  ; 

68 ; 

63  I 
68 
27  i 
44 

87  I 
80 

20  ' 

5i 


4,1I1>« 


NOTES    ON    THE    FISHERIES   OF   THE    PACIFIC    COAST. 
Staiemeut  of  the  daily  catch  of  laimon  in  two  wheeln,  ric. — Continued. 


1 

1, 135 

1.843 

1,368  I 

1 

8,207 

264 


BULLETIN    GV    rHIC    UNITED    STATES   FISH    COMMISSION. 
Statement  of  the  (Utily  eatoh  of  lalmon  in  two  wh'eU,  etc. — Continued. 


Date. 

Heislit 
water. 

Oregon. 

Waaliingtoii. 

Small 
cliliinoks. 

Large 
vhiniioka. 

Blue- 
bucka. 

St«el. 
Iieiida. 

Total. 

Small 
cliiiiooka. 

Large 
clilnookK. 

Illuc- 
biu'kti. 

Stefl- 
hoatla. 

Total. 

1803. 

Ft.  in. 

.Vumfcer. 

JVu»ii6er. 

Humbtr. 

Number. 

Number. 

Number. 

Number. 

Nwmher. 

A'u»i6«r. 

Number. 

Apr.  27 

May     1 

3 

t 

8 

10      6 

la    fl 

8 

12 

1 

21 

: 

1 

14 

15 

5 

1 

10 

1 

18 

"    1 
i; 

14 

14      (. 

2 
S 
1 
2 
2 
2 

15 
16 
21 
29 
36 
35 

17 

■20 
•25 
2V 
38 
38 

10 
6 

10 
3 

3 
28 

4 

36  1 
37 

1 

i' 



1                  j 

i 

7 

2 

23 

1 

33 

9 

10 

n 

12 
13 
15 
10 
17 
18 
IB 
20 
22 
23 

It 
28 

14  0 

15  4 

16  4 

17  6 

18  t 
10      7 

20  a 

21  7 

22  7 

24  0 

25  8 

26  2 
26      0 
25      8 
25      3 
25      0 

•i 

10 
4 
2 
B 
9 
19 
12 
5 
3 

1 

0 
6 
1 
6 
4 
11 
17 
9 

31 
18 
46 
38 
3<1 
40 
3 
7 
2 
11 
24 
21 
,56 
40 

35 
20 
40 

11 
40 
«0 
70 
17 
10 
5 
14 
27 
•24 
64 
70 

9 
21 

2 
3 

25 
.52 
16 

7 
U 
10 
13 
35 

3 

8 

8B 
78 
17 

3 
13 
13 
22 
47 

B 

1 

i 
1 
1 

8 

11 

2 

1 

2 

1 
1 

1 

4 

1 

2 

::::::::::::::::::::! 

3 
3 
2 
6 
17 

5 

is 

21 

1 
2 
10 

5 
27 
58 

5 

7 
8 

35 
46 
86 

46 
81 

163 

} 

3 

27 
29 
3., 
31 

Total. 

Judo    1 
2 

24      « 
24      0 
24      0 
23    11 

62 
144 
110 
140 

23 
60 
62 
31 

8D 
112 
73 
88 

155 

306 

235 

•       263 

14D 
74 

113 
60 

32 

6 

15 

12 

160 
50 
116 
101 

4 
3 
6 

349 
133 
250 
173 

4 

660 

233 

937 

10 

1,  740 

582 

112 

846 

29 

1,56B 

24      6 
•24      7 

162 
166 

28 
46 

120 
96 

316 
309 

76 
136 

16 
34 

141 

■246 

0 

3 

230 
410 

1 

3 

24     10 

240 

95 

68 

2 

405 

no 

32 

3118 

2 

43'J 

5 

24     10 

322 

72 

.19 

9 

402 

71 

14 

52 

6 

143 

« 

7 

24      6 
24    11 

264 
184 

75 
62 

80 
368 

419 

020 

124 
114 

40 
38 

168 
127 

283 

0 

4 

8 

25      1 

124 

60 

144 

7 

325 

97 

49 

126 

8 

278 

8 

25     10 

96 

26 

144 

4 

270 

88 

3- 

94 

6 

22.') 

10 

28      7 

72 

14 

264 

t 

354 

101 

48 

279 

9 

437 

12 

27      3 

32 

12 

138 

7 

189 

17 

4 

52 

5 

78 

13 

27      8 

20 

5 

96 

e 

127 

33 

13 

100 

1 

153 

14 

28      1 

16 

4 

96 

4 

120 

35 

6 

9B 

2 

142 

15 

28      2 

8 

6 

80 

2 

96 

10 

1 

•y 

1 

51 

16 

27    10 

8 

3 

79 

5 

95 

8 

1 

36 

3 

48 

17 

27      3 

28 

0 

180 

6 

200 

49 

lb 

129 

5 

202 

10 

26      5 

104 

62 

80 

2 

238 

108 

57 

88 

3 

266 

20 

26      3 

126 

72 

65 

8 

286 

134 

125 

173 

13 

415 

21 

20      0 

148 

92 

136 

7 

383 

105 

180 

498 

12 

885 

22 

2«      0 

116 

61 

06 

8 

272 

84 

123 

43B 

16 

663 

23 

25      0 

80 

46 

80 

8 

213 

48 

64 

300 

18 

420 

24 

24     11 

00 

34 

176 

12 

282 

48 

48 

360 

19 

482 

•      20 

24       1 

224 

108 

284 

23 

619 

149 

94 

319 

16 

578 

27 

23     10 

272 

172 

40U 

28 

872 

334 

230 

1.038 

4» 

1,657 

28 

23      8 

103 

0(1 

335 

34 

628 

153 

102 

1,116 

49 

1.42U 

2B 

33      5 

IHU 

88 

322 

44 

614 

102 

90 

1,078 

48 

1,3"1 

30 

Total . 

July     1 

23      7 

132 

06 

304 

88 

500 

92 

47 

832 

57 

1,0'J8 

3,327 

1,381 

4,  250 

l-^O 

9,284 

•2,496 

1.508 

8,259 

359 

12,6'iO 

23      5 

120 

88 

288 

111 

807 

150 

69 

1,086 

140 

1,435 

3 

22      » 

84 

42 

138 

132 

304 

40 

23 

232 

65 

3119 

4 

22      4 

72 

32 

208 

132 

444 

113 

53 

571 

89 

8W 

5 

22      2 

66 

43 

216 

180 

485 

108 

52 

884 

98 

1,142 

6 

22      3 

68 

24 

108 

156 

446 

78 

:7 

649 

118 

8IB 

7 

22      0 

68 

16 

202 

12>l 

406 

140 

;!o 

399 

328 

8 

21     11 

66 

17 

184 

204 

461 

203 

70 

445 

499 

,,217 

10 

21       2 

54 

18 

152 

348 

572 

45 

15 

76 

829 

4114 

11 

20    n 

34 

24 

84 

.•151 

493 

58 

33 

r22 

822 

8.'l.1 

12 

20    lU 

40 

20 

92 

264 

406 

56 

10 

911 

498 

6A4 

13 

21      1 

52 

24 

104 

388 

l>48 

b;i 

7 

72 

538 

6.i0 

14 

21      6 

76 

40 

103 

360 

.579 

39 

16 

90 

660 

79.^ 

15 

21      7 

80 

49 

72 

400 

601 

31 

23 

64 

'8S1 

1,0<» 

17 

21      1 

28 

18 

42 

189 

277 

IB 

16 

27 

378 

410 

18 

21      0 

28 

18 

50 

252 

;I54 

34 

18 

39 

462 

s.w 

19 

20    11 

32 

14 

58 

241 

343 

18 

11 

2 

090 

419 

20 

20    10 

24 

e 

38 

•247 

315 

15 

6 

28 

857 

4116 

21 

20    10 

30 

10 

35 

24U 

327 

20 

10 

23 

408 

4111 

22 

20      8 

30 

IB 

80 

•248 

327 

25 

8 

26 

612 

671 

24 

20      4 

27 

16 

81 

188 

262 

10 

11 

18 

252 

300 

Total. 

i>iber.\ 

Numbfr. 

1  I 

n     1 

1 

18 

4 

36 
37 

1 

1 

33' 

3 

80 
76 

X 

17 

3 

i;i 

13 
22 
47 

4 

0 


::::::i:::::::::; 



21 



45 

1 

81 

1 

153 

i 

345 

3 

133 

6 

250 
173 

20 

1,568 

6 

2:10 
410 

432 

0 

143 
332 

4 

283 

0 

278 

6 

225 

g 

437 

5 
1 

78 
153 

2 

142 

1 

51 

3 

48 

5 

202 

3 

266 

13 

415 

12 

KH5 

16 

6f)3 

18 

420 

1» 

482 

10 

578 

4» 

1,667 

49 

1.420 

48 

I,3"l 

57 

i,o:;8 

359 

12,620 

140 

1,435 

360 

80 

826 

98 

1,142 

118 

499 

.,217 

320 

«22 

«:i3 

400 

664 

538 

6,iO 

650 

795 

'951 

1.0119 

378 

440 

462 

5.')3 

;)»o 

410 

357 

4li6 

4IIH 

4111 

612 

671 

252 

300 

NOTES   ON   THE    VISHERIES    OP   THE    PACIFIC    COAST. 
tylatemeiit  of  the  ilaily  vnlch  0/  salmon  in  two  wheeh,  etc. — Continued. 


265 


Oregon. 


1803. 

Ft. 

in. 

July  25 

20 

•i 

•    26 

20 

1 

27 

10 

9 

28 

19 

8 

29 

19 

1 

31 

18 

6 

SniRll        Large    | 
chlnooka  cliinnokl. 


Illue- 
backa. 


Xumber. 
28 
,38 
36 
44 
36 
28 


Number. !  Number. 
15  23 

18  20 


Steel- 
headi. 


Numbtr. 
112 
172 
140 

138 

go 

134 


Total. 


Small        Liirun 
cliiiKMtkH.loliinoukN.' 


Nxtmber. 
178 
V,\ 
227 
232 
1.50 
"172 


WiMliliiKtun. 


Total . 

Aug.    1 

3 
4 

5 

7 
8 
9 
10 
11 

Total . 

Grand 
total. 

1804. 
ApriU2 
13 
14 
17 
18 
20 
21 
23 
24 
25 
20 
27 
28 


18 
17 
17 
17 
10 
16 
15 
15 
16 
15 


Total. 
May    2 


14 
18 
16 
16 
15 
14 
14 


1,265 


627 


310 


S,482 


76 


2,310 


14    10 
16      0 


17 
19 

21 


4  I    20 

5  ,    20 


21    10 
21    10 


I 

I 
10 
11 
12 
14 
IS 
10 
17 
18 
10 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 


0 

19      4 
19    10 


20 

20 

20 

20 

20 

20    1 

21 

22      I 

23 

23 

24 

26 

20 

28 

20 

30 


ToUl. 


Grand 
total. 


2  I 
1    • 


Bl 


98  I 


too 

10' 


2,401 


5,  493 


0,806 


4 
25 
24 
30 
32 
56 
00 
106 

6 
20 

8 
10 
13 
27 

4 


78 
44 

25 
100 
16 
6 
4 
2 


338 


0,181 


120 
147 
99 
91 
145 
45 
30 
42 
32 
4 


764 


21,654 


23 
25 


11 
63 
42 
40 
54 
74 
113 
130 
10 
32 
13 
10 
15 
29 
7 


684 


705 


Number. 
36 
22 
13 

35 
32 
13 


114 


4,699 

1 
2 


13 


Numbtr. 
7 
12 
10 
13 
21 
11 


'   niiic- 

Steel- 

lllK^kH. 

lieiuli. 

Number. 

Numb*r. 

17 

290 

29 

305  ' 

20 

315 

27 

221  , 

20 

335 

3 

108 

Total. 


Number. 
360 
368 
300 
296 
414 
135 


001  I 


s,08:i 


0, 359  I      16, 442 


54 


43 


2,273 


14,243 


170 
107  I 
171  ] 

00  I 
121  j 

20  I 

10 

10  i 


198 
224 
109 
110 
163 
28 
23 
20 
40 
9 


815 


1,020 


10,583  I      31,078 


30 
66 
27 
43 
62 
22 
.50 
115 
64 
81 
«7 
83 
8« 
45 
4» 
81 
21 

n 

26  ! 

40  i 


247 


200 


82 


609 

17 

915 

578 

49 

072 

On  the  salmon  hiduHtry  in  1876. — lu  the  y»>ar  187(i  Mr,  M.  J.  Kinney,  now  t\w  most 
e.xtensivesalmon-iiackerat  Astoria,  bepin  the  canning  of  salmon  at  that  jihice.  Tlioro 
were  then  only  abontiOO  gillnet  boats  on  the  river,  traps  and  wheels  were  not  employed, 
and  only  chinook  salmon  were  utilized  for  ciinniug.  The  gill  iietH  were  then  smaller  than 
those  now  used,  being  only  300  fathoms  long  and  40  meshes  deep.    The  season  of  1870 


266 


lUJLLETIN   OF    THE    UNITED    STATES   FISH    COMMISSION. 


was  siiniliir  t<»  l.S!>4  in  that  there  was  a  very  lieavy  freshet,  which  for  a  time  imperiled 
the  lisheiy.  The  niii  was  ('iiormous.  With  tlie  jjcar  now  eniphjj'ed  and  the  facitories 
iiow<t|ierated  Mr.  Kinney  estinnitestiiattheoiitpnt  (»f  tlieC'oliimbia  liiver  in  187t)  wouM 
have  been  l,r»(M),0(M»  cases  ;  there  were  em.iifili  hsh  in  the  river  to  jiack  that  qnantity. 

Tiie  iiack,  as  elsewhi-re  }f| ven.  ainomited  to  4."»(),(MH»  <'ases  of  ehinooks,  equivalent  to 
over  1 ,1'()<).(MM»  lish,  alaifjer  jtaek  and  catch  than  had  been  made  in  any  previous  year, 
while  in  only  nine  of  the  sulisequent  eishleen  years  were  the  canning  oi)erati(ms  more 
extensive  anil  in  only  eijiht  weie  more  cliinooks  paclvcil,  notwithstanding^  the  advent 
of  pound  nets  and  wheels  and  the  increase  of  "»()  to  7">  per  cent  in  the  number  of  gill 
nets  employed.  The  boats  lishing  regularly  for  Mr.  Kinney  took  an  average  f  4,3()0 
ehiiiook  salmon  each  during  the  season.  One  boat  landed  !),li)4  fish  at  the  cannery, 
the  catch  being  apportioned  as  follows  among  the  ditlerent  months:  April,  1,020; 
May,  1,051 ;  June,  2,G31 ;  July,  l\-AU;  August,  328. 

Thi^  daily  cateh  of  the  foregoing  boat  and  of  ten  other  boats  fi.shing  for  Mr.  Kinney 
is  shown  in  the  following  table.  Tiu^se  boats,  while  rei»resenting  moiethan  the  aver- 
age proiluction  for  the  h»wer  river,  are  not  selected  for  this  reason,  but  because  of  the 
fact  that  their  operations  covered  the  greater  part,  if  not  all,  of  the  fishing  season. 
The  aggregate  catch  of  the.se  eleven  boats  was  5."),h;52  chinook  salmon,  A  similar 
average  catch  at  the  jiresent  time  would  mean  an  annual  pack  of  over  2,000,000  cases 
of  chinook  salmon.  These  figures  are  interesting  as  showing  the  daily  fluctuations  in 
the  abumlance  of  fish  as  well  as  art'ording  a  basis  for  comparison  witli  otiier  years. 

Table  itlioivinij  the  daily  catch  of  chinook  salmon   by  eleren  gi'l-net  fl»hennen  laudinc  Jink  at  the  cannery  of 

Mr,  M.  J.  Kinney,  at  Attoria,  Oreg,,in  18711. 


Date. 

Mo.l. 

No.  2. 

No.  3. 

3fo.4. 

Uo.5. 

No.  6. 

No.  7. 

No.  8. 

No.  «. 

No.  10. 

"No.  11. 

XoUl. 

Apr.  15-26 

-1,000 

.; 

,1,000 
24 
40 
26 

15 
20 
26 



0 

28 

20 

20 



30 

1 ' 

Total 

Xlnv     1      



1,020 
82 

60 

> 

1,089 

as:  .■ 

81 

20 

=^.. 

30 
65 
61 
53 
21 
16 

21 
13 
13 

184 

222 

336 

212 

427 

320 

158 

584 

;i95 

300  1 

369  1 

263 

389 

132 

406 

289 

630 

732 

507  ! 

767 

352 

651 

343 

455 

615 

3.'i4 

388 

303 

Mg 

260 
643 

'    2 

28 
42 
311 
30 
26 

29 

28 
47 

56 

18 
32 

38 

17 
26 
34 
30 
26 

24 

18 
48 
20 
40 

3  

61 

55 

4 

5  

59 

75 

45 

10 
41 
51 

........ 

46 
53 
60 
68 
95 
20 
61 

64 
66 

25 

48 

.^8 

5i 

37' 

0 

7 

8 

IOC 
36 

51 
45 
52 

71 

42 
51 

80 

23 
........ 



38 

54 

36 

77' 

42 
24 

61 

26 
58 
27 
87 
15 
48 

50 
31 
22 

62 
34 
52 
87 

n 

10 

ii 

13 
22 

11 

110 

12 

36' 

52 

:il 

13 

84 

26 

43 
18 
46 

51 
42 
27 

23  I          47 

14 

15 

135 
94 

51 

•Hi- 
ss 

58 
56 
111 
60 
17 

74' 

60 
35 
34 
6J 
54 

«6 

43 

66            ^^ 

16 



.^7 
93 
65 
67 

68' 

64 
29 

77 
05 
50 

:uo 

ia' 

'""'ioi' 

SO 
92 
47 
49 
73 

34 

17 

31 
78 
52 
68 

43' 

48 
54 
59 
27 

49 
65 
24 
16 
47 

29 

20 

io 

27 

68 

•         60 

101 

110 

7(i 

68 
12 
UK 
.'il 
45 

19 
40 
77 
113 
128 
22 

36 

72 
45 
31 
50 
41 

^' 

50 
67 

60' 

61 

18 

19 

127 

64            71 
4U            42 
36            (U 

20 

146 

21 

69 

31 

22t 

107 
25 

66' 

28 

22 

86 

1U> 
46 
47 
87 

108 

47' 

78 
80 

85' 

;w 

79 

2:1 

24 

25 

26 

8t             34 
23  •         65 

20    

27 

34  :          47 

27 

28 

28 

.10 

66 
84 
74 

62 

47 
37 

26 

i« 

60- 
««' 

49  •         34 

78             27 

:)3 

31 

Total 

223 

1.631 

1,030 

971 

750 

1.350 

1.212 

1,281 

1,311 

903 

941        1,110 

12,508 

'  No  arcnratv  reronl  was  kapt  for  the  tlrat  12  ilaya'  flahiiiK  of  thia  tUliprman.     He  made  hiiiiiv  vt-ry  large  lifts 
befurr  moat  uf  'm  otiier  ttslitrmen  begin  operatlonii,  auil  Iiia  catch  whh  eatiniati'il  liy  Mr.  Kinney  at  tlie  nuiulter  shown. 


imperiled 

factories 
87t>  would 

(|uaiitity. 

ivaloiit  to 
II Ills  year, 
ion.s  more 
lie  advent 
ber  of  gill 
f  4,;{()0 
B  cannery, 
•ril,  1,020; 

Ir.  Kinney 

tlie  aver- 

ii.so  of  the 

ng  season. 
A  similar 

t.OOO  cases 
nations  in 
years. 

e  cannery  of 


11. 

Total. 

— 

.1,000 

24 

40 

25 

... 

1,089 

184 

24 

222 

18 

336 

48 

212 

20 

427 

40 

320 

156 

62 

584 

34 

395 

.'■2 

3U0 

67 

369 

31 

263 

47 

389 

132 

ir, 

496 

63 

289 

34 

530 

71 

732 

42 

5U7 

04 

787 

59 

352 

34 

651 

34 

343 

65 

455 

... 

616 

27 

854 

47 

383 

303 

34 

649 

27 

250 

32 

643 

111 

12,  .<i(l8 

NOTES   ON    THE    P'ISHEHn:S    OF"  THE    PACIFIC    COAST. 


267 


Table  ahowing  the  daift/  catch  of  rhhiook  salmon  hii  eleven  i/illuet  ftiihtrmtn  Inntihiti  Jlnh  at  the  oauHery  of 
Mr.  M.  J.  Kittueyj  at  jMtoriUf  Orey.,  in  2S70 — Contiuuud. 


vy  Ii)r)(e  lilts 
iub«r  showu. 


Date. 

Xo.1. 

No.  2. 

No.  8. 

Mo.  4. 

No.  5. 

No.  6. 

Hi 

24 
.11 
'.•22' 
142- 
74 
124 
5)1 
40- 

No.  7. 

No.  8. 

123 
82 
72 

i;i3 

104 
97 
53 

Nil.  9. 

No.  10. 

No.  11. 

ToUl. 

778 
79» 
760 
1.4:10 
1,277 
912 
7.55 
819 
546 
1.50 
769 
829 
957 
9:19 
687 
445 
,539 
604 
383 
667 
566 
812 
197 
470 
861 

43 
117 
114 
208 
172 
141 

"'ui' 

128 
119 
58 
121 
108 
52 
.31 
122 
61 
63 
103 
67 

80 
65 
78 
26 
52 
93 
109 

e:i 

39 
36 
25 

m' 

02 
100 

78- 
«" 

"iij 

87 

Ofl- 
lfl()» 

Ui 
21 T 
1H8 
145 

49 

107 
11 

174 
74 

72 

83 
70 

""'123' 
....... 

137 



164 

112 

78 
117 
75 
67 
80 
61 
73 
68 

121 
1U8 

45 
138 
106 
130 

71 
105 

72 

62 

2.1 
117 
107 
lit 

80 
103 

85 
105 

1      2 

1      3. 

5 

,      6 

7 

8 

0 

138 

84 

87 
18 

106 
12 

1(1 

91 

21' 

173 
200 
181 

11 

12 

63 
72 
72 
110 

70 
89 

74 
82 
74 
62 

""  132' 
78 
124 

139 
42 

103 
68 
13 
77 
62 
68 
.53 
48 
80 
82 

5U 

6i' 

114 
104 
44 

64 

80 
rio 

1....". 
i35 

85 
78 
81 
72- 
89 

81 

60 

21 
79 
19 

1     13 

170 
171 
184 

14 

15 

1     in 

17..  .. 

77 
82 

106 
43 

153 
63 
80 

82 
19 
29 

69 

19 

20 

66' 

81 
47 
55 
73 

82' 

25 
96 
61 

82 
103 
33 
87 
47 
37 

61 
44 

r>8 

.48 

""Hi' 

21 

22 

70 
35 
81 

2a' 

43 

75 
45 
65 

23 

24 

25 

26 

04 
128 

19 
148 
126 

24 

77 
100 
100 
30 
65 

18 
140 
125 

53 
125 

92 
62 
88 
186 
116 

35 
74 
42 

72' 

70 
25 
63 
49 
72 

70 
101 
05 
80 
103 

27 

94 
94 

66 
25 
12 

107 

28 

066  1 

29 

664 
967 

30 

Total 

July  1 

1   110 

2,  an 

1,728 

61 

140 

132 

118 

95 

85 

54 

14 

22 

46 

39 

36' 

83 
37 
87 
97 
110 
6:1 
94 
78 
54 
16 
60 
33 
32 
19 

1,325 

1,479 

1.934 

2,002 

-  — -=^^— - 
56 
162 
91 

82' 

102 
81 

1,945 

48 
121 
100 
97 
60 
60 

1,954 

m 
112 

103 
90 
49 
83 

104 

1.059 

"40 

27' 

61 

1. 124 

72 
103 
51 

■■"126 
90 
94 

2.3:15 

sT 

166 
132 
Kin 

88 
123 

6.1 

20,110 
442 

i,;i2o 

1,1. ')0 
879 
1.0(5 
1.  i:i6 
856 
14 
819 
715 
709 
608 
799 
872 
8W 
777 
799 
777 
828 
879 
704 
704 
568 
.'>U8 
473 
405 
4»5 
159 
249 

141 
166 
184 

94 
171 
168 

91 

"  70 
154 
128 
M 
57 
73 
94 

112 

115 
81 

133 
80 

115 
68 

113 
164 
IW 

206 
237 
147 

i     ■  3 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10   

182 

128 

105 

04 

144 

165 

181 

132 

168 

174 

92 

145 

230 

113 

108 

107 

90 

74 

60 

SO 

25 

70 
51 
41 
53 
59 
73 
104 
83 

7i' 

54 
83 
44 
46 
33 
25 
31 
66 
44 
16 
13 

48 
78 
63 
56 
44 

98' 

90 

35 
94 
07 
82 
43 
27 
31 

90 
148 
104 
95 
82 
98 
170 
121 
140 
127 
58 
36 

121 

46 
«5 
41 
71 

72 
89 
51 
50 
74 
150 

52 

Itl 

59 

7.*> 
66 
70 
66 
128 
90 

82 
54 
94 

8:1 
85 
05 
200 
108 
74 
95 
88 
122 
77 
52 
45 
34 
,50 
41 
26 

11 

12 

81 
34 

108 

m 

26' 

36 
6 

13 

14 

15 

17 

65. 
108 

91 
73 
94 
148 
109 
80 
107 
72 
50 

....^ 

Ji 
33 

18 

22 

75 
63 

20' 

94 
»i 
25 
47 
30 
39 
66 

112 
84 

104 
78 
88 
78 
73 
83 
91 
87 
46 

20 

iis 

65 
64 

77 
8.) 
76 
5:1 
68 
35 

21 

22 

24 

71 

25 

26  

64 
40 

27 

28 

29 

54 

2« 

30 

11 

19 

88 

64 

Totlil 

3,674 

6U 
24 
40 

1.688. 

1,711 

1.674 

2,551 

908 

1,879 

2,026 

82 
31 
28 
2S 

780 

"27" 
28 


1,648 

32 
28 
66 
44 
64 

2.288 

m" 

"52 

35 

26 
31 
21 
20 

20.  C'.I7 

34 
47 
35 
15 
18 
17 

il 
5 

8 

210 

2IU 
190 
139 
231 
1J5 
185. 
137 
36 

2 

3 

4 

8 
22 
17 
33 
39 
20 
24 
20 



5 

65 
48 
41 
33 
11 

328 

i^ 

0 

7 

34 
12 



......" 

55 

84  1 

8 

1 

:::.:..: :: 

ToUl 

Grand  total. 

i      ;     1 

199 

8 

183 

220 

65 

313 

200 

1,612 

0,184 

4,465 

4.206 

3,980 

6,02.' 

4,122 

5,105 

5,611 

3,377 

3.«» 

5.939 

65, 8;i2 

268 


miLLETIN    OF   THK    UNITKD   STATES    FISH    COMMISSION. 


Xotea  on  flie  icfh/ht  of  Hnlmon, — Owinjj;  to  tlio  practice  of  tlio  coiiiiers  of  buying  tlie 
Hiiliiioii  only  by  wcigiit  or  by  minibcr.  ii.-<  may  be  dcterniiiicd  on  at  tiio  b('Miiiniiif>-  of 
tlie  .season,  it  is  not  alway.s  eawy  to  obtain  acenrato  lignre.s  sliowing  tlie  averuKO 
wei};ht.s  of  salmon,  except  in  small  <|uuntities  and  for  i,solale(l  dates.  The  following 
tabulations  and  notes  may  tlieiefore  possess  some  elements  of  general  interest  and 
serve  as  a  basis  for  comparisons. 

In  the  case  of  cliinook  salmon  it  is  foniiil  that  the  largest  Hsh  are  taken  in 
greatest  nnmbersalxmt.fnnc  10 or  L'O'of  each  year.  Tlie  (ish  running  at  the  bcgiiiniiig 
and  at  the  end  of  the  .sea.soii  rcjircsent  the  iniiiimnm  average  .sizes,  the  (bcliiie  in  weight 
from  tin*  middle  of  Jnne  being  in  both  directions.  In  189-t  there  was  a  noteworthy 
mil  of  very  large  fish  in  the  lower  river  about  the  middle  of  Jnne.  One  salmon 
weighing  71  pounds  was  landed  at  the  cannery  of  J.  ().  llanthorn  Ct  Co.,  Astoria, 
M  Inch  was  the  largest  seen  in  a  number  of  years;  its  greatest  girth  was  45  inches  and 
its  length  was  .'><!  inches.  Seven  ,' alinon,  caught  in  gill  nets  and  tiajis  on  June  20, 
and  weighing" 3)»()  pounds  in  the  aggregate,  were  found  lying  together  at  the  cannery 
of  Mr.  M.  J,  Kinney,  Astoria. 

The  average  weight  of  the  Columbia  River  cliinook  sabnon  is  usually  given  as  22 
to  2.">  iiouiids.  The  detailed  data  obtained  by  the  writer  give  22.70  pounds  as  the 
average  weight  of  1()4,8.'{1  cliinook  salmon  caught  in  lSi)3  with  gill  nets,  traps,  and 
seines.  The  weights  vary  considerably  with  the  apparatus  employed  and,  as  previously 
stated,  with  the  season.  Contrary  to  the  usually  accepted  theory,  the  average  weight 
of  the  fish  taken  in  iiomid  nets  is  but  little  less  than  those  caught  with  gill  nets; 
during  the  month  of  .June  the.  trap-caught  fish  Are  hirger  than  those  obtained  with 
gill  nets,  and  there  are  days  in  every  month  when-  the  traj)  (Ish-  will  average  larger 
than  the  others. 

The  following  table  is  a  detailed  iiresentatiou  of  the  variations  in  the  average 
weights  of  Chinook  salmon,  depending  on  the  month  and  appariUus  in  which  ca^ight. 
More  than  100,000  Hsh  are  involved  in  the  comparison,  a  uumberwhich  is  sufiiciently 
large  to  warrant  generalizations  from  the  figures. 

Statement  showing  by  7noHths  l)ie  number,  weight,  and  average  might  of  thinook  salmon  taken  with  gill  nets, 
pound  nets,  and  seines  at  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia  liivcr  anil  landed  at  a  salmon  cannery  at  wistaria, 
Oreg.,  in  189S. 


Mouths. 

Caught  by  gill  uet«. 

Caught  by  pound  nets. 

Caught  by  HtoincH. 

Totul. 

Vn  o.t  !     Total       Aver 
"""•    l(pouu<l»).  weight. 

Uo.of 
Osh. 

Total    1  Aver. 

weight   !     age- 

(pouuds).' weight. 

V„  „f       Total     ]  Aver- 
«-h         weight   \     age 
"'"'•    |(pouud»).,  weight. 

Vn  nf       Total    '  Aver- 
«V        weight    •     age 
""''•      (pounds).;  wefght. 

April ,    6.409       129. 0S2 

1 
20.  U          H6 
22.52       1,793 
24. 10       3,  .LW 
2.1.58  1    6,f'>0 
21.88  1    3,109 

7,569 
39,922 
86,018 
140,  360 
64,  404. 

18.19 
22.26 
25.86 
■22.  35 
20.  73 

I 

e,825J     1.10.621       20.02 
2.5,261  1     .'>«8,420       22.50 
25.510       020,819  i     24.33 
28.  356       053.  104  1     23.  03  : 
1^,873        406.002  •     21.54 

)     *     ' 

Juno 

July 

Auj{uiit 

22,  (K)8       r>3(l,  397 
15,017  :    ,374,801 
12, 882  :    2«/-,  139 

iss 

5,889 
2,872 

3,804  1     24.08 
131,953  1     22.41 
.59, 999  j    20.80 

Total  . . . 

80.694    1,844,037       22.  86  ]  15,218 

344,  933- 

22.67 

8,fll0i    195,756!    21. 95  1  104. 831    2.385,^20.  |    22.76  1 

I                  i               1                 ■                  I 

Some  daily  comparisons  of  the  weights  of  ehinook  salmon  caught  in  gill  nets 
and  pound  nets,  respectively,  are  pre.sented  in  the  following  statement.  The  figures 
reliite  to  about  three  months  of  the  llshing  season  of  1893.  The  fish  shown  were 
landed  at  a  cannery  in  Astoria  between  April  17  and  June  28.  The  smallest  average 
for  gill  net  fish  was  18.4!)  iiounds,  on  May  0;  the  largest  was  26.15  pounds,  on  June  3. 
The  smallest  average  for  trap  fish  was  15.!)5  pounds,  on  April  2V;  the  largest  was 
28.00  pounds,  ou  Juno  10. 


lyiii;;  tlie 
iiiiiiii^'  of 
^  iiverHKO 
('(illowiiig 
ercHt  aiitl 

ttilvcn  ill 
x'jrinnjiig 
ill  wi'iglit 
itewortliy 
ic  saliiiou 
,,  A.storia, 
iclics  iiiul 
I  Juno  20, 
e  cannery 


iveii  lis 


'>5 


(Is  as  tlie 
traps,  and 
l»ri'vionsly 
\gp  wcigiit 
I  gill  nets; 
liiK'tl  with 
age  larger 

le  average 
cli  ea*iglit. 
sufliiciently 


ivitA  gill  net», 
•1/  ai  Astoria, 


otal. 


r«tnl    '  Aver- 
I'ilihl        age 
iitiiiU).  weight. 


M,621  1  20.02 

itX.iW  I  22.50 

20,819  i  24.  a3 

53. 104  I  23.03 

iifi.002  '  21.54 


85.  C2fl 


22.76' 


1  gill  nets 
'lie  figures 
Ijown  were 
jst  average 
on  June  3. 
argest  was 


NOTES    ON   THE    FISHEKIK8    OF    THE    I'ACIKIC   COAST. 


269 


.S'/n/cmrNf  of  the  daily  averaye  weiyhln  <if  tliimiiik  kk/hioh  lukni  in  ijill  iifli  miil  iiduikI  iirlH  nl  tin-  mitiith  nf 
the  Columbia  Hiver  and  Inndeil  at  n  cannery  in  Jitoria,  Orfi..  Iirtinni  Ajiril  i:  mid  June  SS,  iS9,1, 


VaU. 


){o.  of  { Averaga 
fl*h.    {  weight*. 


Apr.  17. 
18.. 
It. 
20. 
21. 
24. 
25 
26. 
27. 
28. 
129. 


May 


1 
2. 

'J; 

5. 
6. 

8. 

9. 
10. 
11. 
12. 
13. 
U. 
16. 
17. 
18. 
19. 
20. 
22. 
23. 


816 

685 
244 
07 
122 
409 
«>- 
010 
401 
335 
650 

278 

462 
442 
420 
3.'.3 
737 
391 
791 
410 
435 
302 

1.014 
428 
950 
803 
910 

1,497 
749 
958 

1,418 


Trap*. 

Mo.  of    Avitrnge 
fliih.      weighU. 


I  Poundt. 

21.17 
i        21. 60 

20. 08 

23.  14 
!         21.«fl 

21.  13  I 
I        20.  &4  ■ 
I        20.47  I 
1       21. 70 
I        20.  78  I 

•  S2I.C0U 
«  *'.>i.i  nil  '  1 


I'oundt. 


1 

2 

17.8 

16 

23.44 

5 

20.00 

46 

19.04 


•>22.  60 
22.  18 
21,80  ; 
21.40  I 
21.27  I 
18.  49 

21,  S4  i 
2:1.  89  • 

22.  20  . 
22.58  i 
22.01  j 

21.  20  1 

22.  88  1 
21.75  1 
23. 19 
22.  .'i9 
22.  65  ; 
22.88  I 
24.:;'! 
23.42 


115 
06 

57 
8-.' 

118 

.'il 
118 

88 
116 

02 
127 

43 


18.46 
15.  95 
18.00 
18.60    I 

17.80  il 


18.20 
10.  10 
10.51 
19.08 
18.84 
19.22 


Mn.v 


iTiiiii' 


Hate 


24. 
25. 
20. 
27 
29. 
•M. 
31. 

1. 

2. 

3. 

8. 


IfllliiHia. 

No.  of  I  AveragK  j  No.  of  j  AvtTjige 
fliih.    !  welghw. 


30 
01 
109 
09 
78 
25 
63 
78 
00 
32 


19.76 
21.00  I 

in.  6u 

19.  05  ; 
17.92  '■ 
20.39  I 
20.44 
21.  IS  I 
21.13  , 
18.98 
23.85 


9. 
10. 
12. 
13. 
14. 
15. 
16. 
17. 
19. 
20. 
21. 
X. 
2). 
24. 
26. 
27. 
28. 


l.2;i5 

1,090 
789 
858 
1)44 

1,3,58 
738 

1,112 

1.332 

2,  u:i0 
848 

1.083 
400 

1,075 
805 
932 
58:i 

1,025 
402 
467 
694 

1,387 
572 

1.380 
014 
867 
517 

001 

610 
713 
614 


Vownig, 
2:1.  44  I 
•2.'i.  54 

23.  80 
24.83 

24.  IB 
21.  07 

25.  W) 
25.  58 
24.  35 

20.  15 
2.V  38 

21.  08 

21.  20 
24. 21 
24. 12 
23.88 
20.  08 
24.56 
24.  03 
24.  07 
23.00 
23.  »1 
23.  38 
23.  18 

22.  93 
22.44 
22.01 
21,67 

23.  (HI 
23.19 
23.  49 


Total    I  27.D00 


28 
9 

34 

34 

74 

66 

43 

00 

83 
118 
117 

78 
380 
207 

31 
201 
217 
116 

13 
143 

14 

78 
220 
207 
107 
120  1 
3  i 
1511  ! 

01 

52 
120 


3,349 


Pvunde. 

33.  aa 

23, 38 
23  90 
28.14 

25.  48 

26.  15 

25.  41 

26.  75 
24.  02 
24.  08 
20.  53 
26.  Ml 

23.  90 

24.  62 
27. 115 
28.06 
23.  92 
22.82 
23.  40 

22.  27 

23.  0(1 

20.  51 

23.  48 

24.  .5(1 

21.  65 
2».  04 
21.00 
21.25 
23  72 
24,73 
23.  13 


*  8. 75. Inch  incsh. 

*•  ».25tnch  niodh. 

I  Salmon  taken  in  aniall  nicslieil  ih-(h  (7-inrli)  liatl  an  av<<rnf.;n  wfi^lit  of  11.70  itoiunU, 

1  Salmon  taken  in  Hniall  meaheil  nets  (7  im-h)  ha4l  nnaverauc  weight  of  13.80  pinindH. 

Note Daring  tlnMveek  ending  'Inly  8,  2,488  glllnet  (Nil  liiiil  an  ax'era;;ii  wei^'ht  f>r  21. ."iO  iMminlH  and    1.191 

pound-net  tiwli  an  averatfe  weight  of  25..'>9iiound.s. 

Average  flgures  similar  to  those  given  for  chiiiook  salmon  are  availalili'  for  liliie- 
back  salmon.  Tlie  weight  of  this  (ish  is  usually  estiniatetl  by  ciinners  and  (isiicrmtMi 
at  5  pounds,  whitdi  is  very  close  to  the  actual  figure.  The  following  table,  giving  the 
catch  of  bluebacks  in  the  same  apjiaratus  and  by  the  same  fisliermen  that  took  the 
Chinook  salmon  previously  referred  to,  shows  tiiat  tiie  average  weight  of  !t,'.»lil  blue- 
backs  was  4.96  pounds.  The  largest  fish  were  taken  with  gill  nets,  and  in  May;  tiie 
smallest  with  seines,  and  in  April. 

Statement  ahowiny  by  moiithx  the  iiiimher,  ireiyht,  mid  areraye  weiyht  of  hhielack  Holmoii  taken  with  yill  neta, 
pound  nets,  and  si'ines,  at  the  mouth  0/  the.  l.'oliiinhia  Hirer  and  landed  iit  a  Halinon  canmry  at  Anturia, 
Orey.,  in  1S9.1. 


Monthn, 

Caught  by  gill  iiota.      !    Canght  hy  pound  net*.    |        Caught  by  Heine*.'       |                 Total. 

No.  of 
Hah. 

Total 

weight 

(ponndii). 

10 
01 

^Z'     No.  of 
weTght.     "'"'• 

Total       Aver-     x,„  „,  !     Tolal       Aver-  '  v„  nf       'TntaX       Aver- 

weight   ,     age       ","•,"  ;   weight        ago     1    „"•,"'      weight        age 

(iwunda).  weight.     "'"•     (pouuilB).  weight.     """■     (pounda).  weight. 

April 

M«v 

2 
16 

5.00          208 

1              1  ■            1                 •             1 
835  1      2.87! i 1        210             545 

2,60 

5.80 
4.83 
4.62 

5.69       1,792 
4.97  1     5.400 
5.00  I     1,801 

10  301          5. 80  !   '     1.808'       10,482 

Juiie 

,Iiily 

91  1            452 
3               15 

20,385,      4.83           2J9           1.102         4.81  i     8,780:      27,039 
8.  170         4.54            413            2(139          4.84        2.217          10.233 

Total  . . 

j                1                   .                1 

112  I           568 

1 

5.07  1    9,167        45,490        4.90  1        642  |        3,141;      4,89,    9,921,      49,199  1      4.96  1 

270 


lUTLLKTlN    OK   THK    UNITKD    STATES    FISH    (-'OMMISSION. 


The  only  otlicr  iii'.iiibcrot  the  Htiliiion  rainily  tlnit  i.s  a  if^ular  I'luttor  in  the  Halnioii 
industry  <»f  tlie  li)\v»n(!oluiiibia  !«  the  Htcclht'ud.  Ten  pouihIh  is  usually  a.ssigned  as 
tlie  aveia;;!'  \V('i;;lit  of  th»^  (ish.  l-'roiii  the  followin;;'  table,  sliowiiijif  th«  weights  in 
Hiiiiilar  t'orin  to  that  exliibited  I'or  the  ehiiiook  and  the  liluel)a('k,  it  a|)])ears  that  '2V>,')H1 
ateelheads  taken  in  IHO.'J  had  an  average  weight  of  1()..{;<  pounds.  The  fish  are  largest 
in  August  anil  smallest  in  April,  while  tliose  taken  in  gill  nets  are  heavier  than  those 
obtained  in  pound  nets  or  seines,  the  seine,  tish  being  lightest. 

Statement  nhowimi  by  monlliH  llie  number,  uei;iht,  and  areraye  wtiglit  of  tteelheud  sulmiin  taken  uilh  tjill  nvle, 
ponnd  netn,  and  iieiniii,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia  Bieer,  and  I'lnded  at  a  talmon  lanuevij  at  Aiioria, 
Oretj,, «»  1S9.'I. 


Molitlm. 

April 

Miiv 

( 'might  liy  Kill  nvta. 

C'aiiglit  by  poiinil  ii.>U.           CniiKht  liy  mIusii. 

Total. 

K«  nf  1     '"''•"'     '  Aver- 

(l«i.        ^"''K'"        •"■'« 
"""■     (poiimlH).  w.ight. 

77             736        9.56 
334          2.373  1     10. 16 

No.  of 
flail. 

18 
17 

Tiitnl       Aver- 
weight    1     «Ki' 
(lioiiiiil»).,welglil. 

167  j      9. 28 
1711  1    in  :i.'i 

No.  of 
Huh. 

59 

207 

4,  137 

111,031 

2, 305 

Total 
wi'lKlit 

(|HIIIIhIh). 

509 

2,097 

42,  9o; 

llll,8,'iM 

23, 105 

Avor-     w r 

'I'oIhI       Aver- 

weiglit         N|{« 

(poiiiittn).'  weight. 

9.64    

10.18    

•TtllK 

.Illl.V 

Au){iiat 

TiiUI . . 

51 1          .'i,  040        9.  nx 
Ml        1I.5'.I4       l:i.«9 
047  .        8,735       13.50 

10. 37  •  420 
10,15  i  5,H27 
10.02  1     1,555 

4,  204  j     10.  08 
.S8,  4WI        10.  04 
15,  009       10.  04 

5,  074         .VJ,  251)  '     10.  30 
10,705  ,     171,038  ,     10.29 
4,  507  1      47,  449  ,     10,  53 

2,040!      25,721       12,81  |  18,7:19       170,536 

10.19  ;    7,808 

1 

78,  389 

10.04     26,587  !    274,646  |     10.33 

1                1                    1 

Dcsfrucfii  n  of  salmon  in  the  headtraters. — By  some  reputable  persons  considerable 
stress  is  laid  on  the  iiijiirions  intliu^ixH'.  on  the  abundance  of  ehinook  salinnu  in  the 
Columbia  River  of  the  destruction  offish  in  the  headwaters.  Mr.  W.  II.  Barker,  of  the 
firm  of  ()eorge«!t  Barker,  of  Astoria;  JIr..J  ().  Hanthorn,  of  the  linn  of  .l.O.  Ilaiithorn 
&('().,  of  Astoria,  and  other  cannera,  as  well  as  regular  Hshermen  and  sportsmen, 
attribute  the  jjiesent  relative  scarcity  i)artly  to  the  sacrifice  in  the  upper  waters,  by 
white  men  and  Indians,  of  large  quantities  of  salmon  that  have  run  the  gauntlet  of 
the  lower  river  and  deserve  luotection  when  they  have  reached  their  spawning- 
grounds.  The  fish  are  taken  with  great  facility  in  the  shallow  streams  constituting 
spawning  beds,  and  the  quantities  killed  some  seasons  are  said  to  have  been  enor- 
nio"s.  The  fish  taken  in  such  situations  are  hardly  fit  for  food,  being ''  logy,"  diseased, 
and  emaciated.  At  times  they  have  been  used  <m  the  land  by  wagon  loads.  The 
improvitlent  red  man  often  cuts  out  the  eggs  and  dries  them,  discarding  all  the 
remainder  of  the  fish. 

Mr.  Barker  lias  obser\ed  obstructions  placed  across  narrow  streams  up  wliich 
fish  were  riinning  in  September,  October,  and  November,  an('  lias  known  many  hun- 
dreds of  pounds  of  ripe  fish  to  be  shipped  from  a  single  point  in  Idaho  to  places  in 
Iowa,  .Missouri,  ami  otlier  States. 

Mr.  llanthoin  has  known  good  si)awning-grounds  to  be  destroyed  by  irrigation 
ditches,  the  building  of  wliich  lias  so  reduced  the  supply  of  water  in  the  streams  that 
the  salmon  have  ceased  to  resort  to  tiiem.  The  irrigation  work  is  also  said  to 
keep  otherwi.se  clear  streams  muddy  oi  *' roily,"  and  thus  impair  their  usefulness  as 
spawning  beds. 

According  to  the  statements  of  reliable  people  on  ttie  lower  river,  blueback  salmon 
have  had  their  spawning  grounds  restricted  by  the  erection  of  dams  at  the  outlet  of 
certain  lakes  in  the  headwaters  of  the  Columbia.  Favorite  breeding-grounds  for  (he 
small  species  are  now  utilized  for  irrigation  purposes,  and  are  said  to  be  dammed 
against  the  entrance  of  fish. 


NOTER   ON    THK    FI8HKHIKS    OK    THK    fACUIC    COAST. 


;7i 


111 

III 

!llt 
iln). 

Aver- 

- 

TM 

27;i 

•JSO 
44U 

0.5C 
lU.  IS 
lO.IlO 
10.  L'« 
10.  .')3 

«46 

10.33 

Destriirlinn  of  Mtnall  anlmon. — The  Htivteinent  Iiiih  from  time  to  time  boon  made  ii» 
|)nl)li(;  print,  and  tlit>  opiiiioii  prevails  aiiion;;  some  persons  inteiesteii  in  tiie  lislieries 
of  the  Columbia  Kiver,  that  to  the  deslnietion  of  young  cliiiiook  salmon  i.s  to  be 
attributed  at  least  a  i)art  of  the  decline  whieh  the  industry  has  underptne.  It  may 
be  said,  however,  that  most  persons  attach  very  little  importance  to  the  taking;  of 
.small  llsh;  and  the  spf^eial  committee  of  the  ()re:;on  legislature  app<iiiited  to  inv<>sti 
gate  the  tislieries  of  the  State  seeme«l  inclined  to  favor  rather  than  oppose  the  capture 
of  the*Mmall  fish  Ibund  in  the  Columbia,  on  the  ground  that  they  were  stunted  lish, 
the  muUii>lieati()n  of  which  tended  to  impair  the  (piality  of  the  race.  The  prevalence 
(if  the  opinion  that  all  the  ehinook  salmon  constituting  the  rutm  up  to  August  1,  or 
even  later,  will  naturally  die  after  the  completion  of  the  sjiawning  process,  is  sullicient 
to  outweigluiny  compuiu-tions  that  may  be  entertained  as  to  the  sacrifice  <»f  small  tisli. 

In  i)roportion  to  the  extent  of  the  fishery,  the  catch  of  chinook  salmon  too  snuill 
for  canning  is  generally  unimportant.  During  some  seasons  there  is  a  larger  run  of 
small  lish  than  during  others,  and  then  considerable  quantities  may  be  destroyed. 
Mr.  M.  J.  Ki'uiey,  of  Astoria,  is  authority  for  the  statement  that  at  a  seine  fishery 
above  Astoria  iv  great  many  small  chinooks  were  sacrifice<l  in  IMil.S.  Perhaps  a  third 
of  the  catch  of  ."iOtOOO  pounds  consisted  of  lish  urder  4  or  a  pounds  in  weight.  Some 
were  bnmglit  to  Mr.  Kinney,  who  dumped  them  overboard  an<l  refused  to  take  nwue, 
as  did  other  canners.  Fish  of  this  size  are  too  small  to  can.  Nefeienee  to  a  table 
(p.  Uiili)  giving  the  daily  cat(rh  of  salmon  at  a  seine  fi.shery  at  Hrownsport  Sands, 
near  Pillar  Hock,  Washington,  shows  that  in  the  month  of  August,  18!*.'{.  !,!»!)(» |iounds 
(if  chinook  salmon,  having  an  average  weight  of  only  .'{.i  jiounds  each  (.some  weighing 
(iiily  U  jiounds),  were  caught  ami  thrown  away  because  there,  was  no  sale.  Seines 
nearer  the  mouth  of  the  river  are  reported  not  to  take  a  great  tnany  small  fish,  and 
pouml  nets  in  the  same  situation  are  said  to  catch  very  few  ordinarily,  although  some 
(if  these  small  chinooks  are  thus  taken  each  sea.son.  Oir  .Tune  20,  at  Astoria,  a  few 
were  seen  weighing  only  2  iM)unds;  the.se  had  been  obtained  in  pound  lU'ts. 

According  to  the  statements  of  (dinners,  ti.^  'lermen,  and  all  other  jjer.sons  con- 
nected with  the  salrion  fishery  who  have  had  opportunity  to  make  observations,  the 
small  chinook  salmon  in  question  are  all  males  which,  tlioiigh  undeveloped  as  to 
size,  are  sexually  mature.  This  opinion  is  based  on  the  following  facts  and  hypotheses : 
1 1 )  That  only  fish  capable  of  undergoing  the  reproductive  act  enter  the  river;  (2)  that 
male  fish  of  this  small  size  are  known  to  have  had  ripe  milt  and  ■.  Ii  ve  undergone 
tlie  spawning  i)roce8s;  (.'3)  that  no  female  salmou  under  7  poun<l8  m  \ eight  has  «'ver 
been  taken  in  the  river. 

The  following  remarks  on  this  subject  emanate  from  a  report  made  to  the  Oregon 
legislature  by  a  special  committee  appointed  \o  investigate  the  fisheries  of  the  State: 

Parti(!.H  ungiifred  in  cither  of  tlie  (liflTrrent  niodea  of  fiHliiiij;  iianibd  geni-rnlly  iiiHist  that  that 
]i:iiticuhir  mode  of  tishin};  i.s  least  in.jiirioiis  to  tho  fish  interoHt  of  the  .St!it(?;  mid  a  (jroiit  deal  of 
ci'iiiplaiiit  haH  hecii  made  and  many  olijoctions  hav(«  been  ni-^ed  a]i;ainHt  ligliin;;  with  trajiH,  wlieels, 
siinpH,  and  simihir  appliances.  Tlio  main  olijiTtion  iirjfed  ai;ainHt  »he  inodcn  of  tishinK.jintt  eiiiimcniliMl 
i>  that  they  are  detrlniontal  to  the  tisli  interest  of  tin;  State  in  thi.s  way,  that  tliey  destroy  vrry  snuill 
llsh  (salmon),  and  liy  the  destruction  of  the  small  lish  canso  a  jjeneral  fallin;'  olf  in  tho  supply  of 
silmon;  and  it  is  nr^ed  that  this  mode  of  fishinj;  is  so  destrnctive  that  it  will  ultimately  cause  the 
annihilation  of  the  salmon  industry  of  tlie  Colnmliia.  We  have,  therefore,  undertaken  to  make  a 
tliorouf^h  invcsti(i;ation  of  that  snhject,  and  have  done  so  to  the  best  of  our  ability,  to  such  an  extent 
that  we  feel  contldent  that  we  have  arrived  at  the  proper  solution  of  the  iinestion. 

The  small  tish,  or  salmon,  that  are  can({ht  with  the  la,st  named  appliances,  .".nd  which  it  is  claimed 
aie  destroyed  by  such  modes  of  fishing,  consist  principally  of  small  chinook  salmon,  and  weigh  from 


272 


BULhKTIN    OF   THK    UNITED   8TATK8   FISH   COMMISSION. 


II  or  i  III  7  or  H  iioiiiiiIn.  TId'.y  run  iil  lliu  niiiiii<  tltni'  itiiil  witli  tlic  liir|{«,  or  wliiit  we  fi-rni  tlio  ro.val 
t'liliiook  Hidiiinii.  'I'lii'  otliir  Hiiiall  IihIi  cniiulit  art-  hliii'liiirk  iind  a  vit.v  I'i'W  Hiiiall  NtrclliuailH.  Tliu 
liliii'liarUN  of  tliu  Ht/i>N  caii^lil  arii  wliat  »o  coiiNidrr  tll<^  avt'ru^i'  oT  llii>  run,  ami  of  the  Ninall  ntt'el- 
InuilH  tliat  iiri<  raM);lit  llii'ri'  uri>  ton  frw  to  be  worlliy  of  I'onMiilrratlon. 

Tlicri*  Hconm  to  nxlnt  i|iiili>  a  illviTHlty  of  opinion  with  ri'^aril  lo  tlio  Hiniill  Hiilinon  ri-f«rri'il  to, 
Hitrnii  pumonH  iiiiH<>rtiii)(  thiit  they  lirn  ftMiall  diinook,  wliilo  otIinrM  inNiHt,  on  iirroiint  of  thii  paliun-MH  of 
lliu  llcnli,  that  tlii-y  uro  anothttr  and  (lllfuri<nt  Npi^'icH,  or  wliitu  Huhnon.  Th»  laitt  claim  Ih  niatlu  niuinly 
liy  ptM'HonN  intrrcHttiil  in  thoNi-  inoiloN  of  tlHliin^  liy  wliirh  Nrnall  lixh  aro  takon.  After  a  tliorongh 
invi'Htlgation  we  I'imI  that  wo  ran  ]iosltiv<'ly  nNHcrt  tliat  llioni'  Nnnill  Haliiioii  ho  taktm,  not  inchidin); 
IduidiuckH  and  Htoolhi'ailH,  an'  Hniall  chinook  Hulnion,  and  wi',Mliall  hi-ri'  k'^"  our  ruaHonn  for  coming  to 
tbut  conclnHion, 

During  our  invoRtiKutlon  up  and  down  thv  (7nliiiiil>iiv  w«  uarofully  ooinpnrod  thoM  Rnnitl  Nalmoii 
with  tli«  lar^K  Halnion,  and  wi-  found  that  in  uvcry  n-Mpiict,  ttxropt  color  of  IIchIi,  they  had  the  Hanie 
diittinKniHliing  cdiaracturiHlirH  that  thu  lar^fo  Halnion  have.  \V«  mIho  had  hiindriMlM  of  thonu  niuuII 
Halnion  opviird,  mid  every  one  of  tlioni  proved  to  hu  ii  inaht  Nitlnion.  ThuHmalleHt  fenialu  Niilinoii  foiiild 
Ity  iiH  diiriii);  all  our  inveHtiKatlon  wiih  one  e.uii){ht  near  ANtoria,  whieh  wuif(lied  il^  poiindN. 

The  ehairnian  of  thiH  eoniniitteo  liaH  had  the  opportunity  of  OMitiniiiiiiK  into  that  i|iieHtioii  for  inniiy 
ycnrs.  lie  han  uxainlned  liinidredH — he  eonid  Hafely  May  thnuMandH— of  tliosn  Hinall  dtiion,  mid  nil 
that  Irt)  has  ever  exaniined  were  male  except  one,  and  that  one  weighed  SJ  poiiii''  't  beinj}  the 

HniallcHt  female  kjiIiiioii  over  Heeii  by  liliii,  tbi>  next  HumlloHt  b«iii|;  tho  otie  oeen  by  t  'uittoo,  au<l 

wel){hinK  IIA  poiindH. 

Since  1JSH7,  Hciiator  h-  T.  liaiiii,  tlio  (iliiiirmiin  of  tlie  coiiunittee  whoso  report  has 
been  quoted,  ha,s  been  ort'oring  $25  lor  any  female  cliinook  nalnion  woJKliing  7  pountls 
or  lesH,  tjauglit  in  tlie  nets  of  tlie  ('oliinibia  Kiver  tishennen. 

Senator  Harin  lias  maile  some  iiiteie.sting  observations,  which  probably  throw 
light  on  tiie  stunted  tlsh  ])roblein,  and  has  coininunicated  the  same  to  me.  Some 
years  ago,  on  an  island  at  tiie  mouth  of  th«t  Willamette  lliver,  ho  iiscertained  that 
some  blind  sloughs,  inhabited  by  cattish,  (contained  numbers  of  snnill  ehinook  salmon. 
The  sloughs  had  not  been  overtlowed  for  two  years,  to  the  positive  knowledge  of  Mr. 
Harin,  and  tho  lish  must,  therefore,  have  been  retained  for  at  least  that  length  of  time. 
They  were  much  stunted  in  growth,  owing,  as  the  observer  sui)poses,  to  delicieney  of 
food.  lie  thinks  that  ev«'ry  year  larger  or  smaller  numbers  of  parrs  are  left  in  blind 
.sloughs  adjacent  U>  the  river.s.  sind  are  liberated  in  a  dwarfed  condition,  after  one  or 
two  seasons,  by  the  reciUTeiKse  of  firsliets  similar  to  those  which  caused  their  retention. 
In  Mr.  liarin's  o])inion  all  iipparently  stunted  salmon  taken  in  the  river  aro  tish 
which  have  been  left  in  .sloughs  witlumt  sutlicient  food  aiul  otlior  suitable  condit'ons. 
An  unexplained  fact,  howt^vcr,  is  that  all  the  small  lish  appear  to  be  iiuiles. 

(Jiiiilitiio/f'all  rhinoitl;  Htilniitn. — The  (^aiiimrs  lay  great  stress  on  the  poorfpialityof 
fall  chinook  salmon  ami  the  little  value  they  possess  for  (\anning.  The  tisli  which  run 
in  September  and  October  are  healthylooking  and  have  little  suporlicial  ditference 
from  the  spring  aiul  summer  lish.  Thoy*.vre  apt  to  have  a  somewhat  i)aler  llesh,  liow- 
ever,  ami  the  meat  is  destitute  of  oil,  which  is  essential  to  lirst-([iiality  lish. 

While  the  ordiiiiiry  lish  will  sell  for  .^."i.L'.")  per  case  of  4H  one-pound  cans,  these 
lish  can  never  l)e  sold  as  No,  1  fish,  and  have  to  be  diverted  to  an  inferior  trade, 
uot  even  ranking  with  good  second-class  fish.  The  demand  is  limited,  and  tlieir  sale 
tends  to  reduce  the  reputation  of  the  Columbia  Hiver  salmon.  The  differences  between 
the  early  and  late  lish  when  canned  are  very  marked,  aiui  maybe  appreciated  even  by 
a  novice.  Natural  oil  of  a  rich  yellow  color  will  be  fouml  in  a  can  of  fish  taken  before 
Sei)tember,  while  no  oil  worthy  of  mention  will  be  found  in  tlio  late  lish.  There  is  no 
tlitterenco  in  the  size  or  iiitpearanco  of  the  tish,  aiul  often  little  or  no  difference  in  the 
<'olor  of  tho  fish  before  or  after  cooking. 


Tho  I 
lii'long  to 
mil  in  the 
li^li.  The 
ii'turn  tot 
.iitumpts  ' 
will  be  ceil 

Sill  inn 
ili'iilers  CO, 
lioiii  food 

Accor 
the  biisin 
I  liiiiook  sii 
l.'iver,  iit  < 

l''oo<l  ( 
stuinachs  i 
siiiiielimes 
thrown  iii 
tiie  food  WI 

Dnriii! 
loiisidcred 
I'.i  the  Pori 

'I'ho  sail 
'"'111  made  v 
lli'iiry  (ioiihii 
«cre  taken  ii 
Hlit're  it  ig  sa 

On  Jill 
of  lish  wer 
the  extreii 
Mscend. 
tiiUeii  by  ii 
Ijiit  ii  few  \ 
Fisiiii 
liooks,  and 
111"  under  t 
usually  pai 
of  the  size 
'vill  jieriiii 
pinkish  or 
Poioil 
tlio  Coliiiiil 
tlie  past  li\ 
Tlic  (igur(•^ 
nf  tlie  salm 
liiis  been 
their  recor 


NOTES  0>f  THE   FISHERIES   OF   THE   PACIFIC   COAST. 


273 


in  tlie  royiil 
lumdM.  Tlio 
Hiiiall  Hti'el- 

rofurri'd  to, 

|lllltl|ll'llH  of 

ii;i(lu  iiiiiiiily 

It  tlioroiiKh 

It  iiK'IiiiliiiK 

)r  ooniiiiK  to 

iiimll  Nuliiion 
nil  thu  Hiiiiie 
tlioso  Hiuull 
iiiliiioii  roiiiul 
I. 

ion  for  many 

nioii,  anil  »lt 

t  being  the 

iiittoo,  uu<i 

•(•port  has 
ji  7  pouiids 

il)ly  throw 
iii<>.  Sdiiio 
taiiicd  that 
)ok  siiliiion. 
3»lgo  of  Mr. 
;;th  of  time, 
lefioiency  of 
left  in  blind 
lifter  one  or 
ir  retention, 
'cr  are  lisli 
I  coudit'ons. 
s. 

oniuiilityof 
li  whicli  run 
il  differonco 
r  llesli,  how- 
1. 

cans,  these 
ferior  trade, 
id  tlieir  sale 
ices  between 
it«'d  even  by 
taken  before 

There  is  no 
irence  in  the 


The  opinion  is  qnite  prevalent  anion;,'  tlie  eanneiH  and  tlHliernien  that  thu  llsh 
III  lung  to  a  ditVerent  rat!e  from  Mie  sprin;;  and  suinim<r  tish,  bein^  similar  to  the  fall 
iiin  in  the  other  rivers  of  the  west  eoast,  in  all  of  whirh  the  fall  rnn  consists  of  lean 
li-'h.  The  opinion  also  prevails  that  tne  Itsh  hatched  from  eg^fs  of  the  fall  run  will 
ii'tnrn  to  the  river  in  the  fall  and  be  IhcnndesirabU^  llsli,  and  the  hope  is  ;;eneral  that  no 
,iltum)its  will  be  made  to  propa^tate  tlie  late  llsli,  but  that  the  clfortsof  lish  cultiiristH 
udl  be  centered  on  tlutspririji^and  summer  broods,  which  a lontuu'c  suitable  for  canning. 

Sdlmou  ((iliiiiji/iKKj  in  f null  icolo-. — The  o]iinion  anil  observation  of  llshermen  and 
ilcalers  coiiicide  in  attributing  to  the  chinoiik  sahnon  llu^  habil  of  wholly  abstaining 
tioni  food  afti'r  entering  the  river. 

According  to  the  statements  of  llshermen  there  is  only  one  locality  in  that  part  of 
tlie  basin  of  the  <"olnnd)ia  Kiver  where  comnn'rciiil  llshlng  is  carried  on  where  the 
I  liinook  salmon  regularly  tak)>  the  baited  liook  ;  this  is  at  tli*^  falls  of  the  Willamette 
I.'iver,  at  Oregon  ('ity,  where  anglers  use  fresh  salmon  spawn  with  great  suiicess. 

I'\)od  consisting  of  partly  digested  snnill  llsh  has  peatedly  been  observed  in  the 
>t<anachs  of  salmon  taken  ator  near  tin;  mouth  of  tin  liver.  IJnmutilatcd  snudtshave 
siimetimes  been  seen  to  fall  from  the  months  of  chiin)ok  salmon  when  the  latter  were 
tlirown  in  a  scow  or  boat.  In  all  such  instances,  however,  the  inference  is  clear  that 
flic  food  was  ingested  bcfiue  the  lish  left  the  ocean. 

During  the  month  of  .lune  the  angling  at  the  falls  of  the  Willamette  Hiver  was 
considered  unusually  line,  and  large  numbers  of  chinook  salmon  weie  taken.  On  Juno 
I'.t  the  Portland  Onijoiiinn  contained  the  following  not(*  on  the  subject: 

'I'lio  Halinon  liHliiii);  at  t\w  fullH  of  thu  Williiinuttestill  rontiniii's  ^ooil,  anil  some  line  catrlicH  linvo 
lii'in  niadu  within  tho  past  fi'W  dayH.  Mr.  1j.  T.  llarin  caiiKht  '21  on  Satnrilay  anil  At  .lohnNon  anil 
lli'iiry  (lonloii  caujilit  ovrr  HO.  Sovoral  othiTH  ran);ht  from  lOtoL'O,  anil  in  all  Mi'aily  KM)  yoiiiijj  chinnok 
WITH  taliiii  in  ono  ilay,  w<>if;hin>{  from  2  to  10  imiinilH,  anil  iiviTiiKinK  alioul  5  |ionniln.  I''or  a  ronntry 
» lii'i'r  it  in  Kuiil  Halinon  wonlil  not  take  a  hook  this  is  |iri'tty  K'>'><1  n.sliiriK. 

On  June  'S,l  the  writer  made  a  visit  to  Oregon  (-ity,  and  found  that  a  large  number 
of  lish  were  then  below  the  falls.  The  best  Hshing  is  from  a  rocky  island  lying  at 
tlie  extreme  left  of  the,  falls,  at  the  only  point  where  it  is  jxissible  for  the  tish  to 
iiscend.  In  the  course  of  an  hour  about  lo  chinook  salmon,  mostly  of  small  size,  were 
rnkenby  a  dozen  anglers.  Most  of  the  llsh  hero  caught  anumder  10  jiounds  in  weight, 
but  a  few  weighing  from  !.">  to  2~i  ))ounds  are  also  se(!iired. 

Fishing  is  done  with  jointed  rods,  fitted  with  .10  to  100  yards  of  stout  line,  one  or  two 
hooks,  and  a  light  sinker.  The  current  is  very  swift  and  strong,  and  the  lino  is  cast 
up  uiuler  the  falls  and  jicrmitted  to  drift  dowu.stream.  From  10  to  2~)  yards  of  lino  are 
usually  i)aid  out.  The  only  bait  nsi'd  is  fresh  salmon  sjiawn.  This  is  cut  into  pieces 
of  the  size  of  a  cubic  inch,  and  is  i)laced  on  the  hook  as  securely  as  its  consistemiy 
will  permit.  The  vivid  red  color  which  the  spawn  naturally  has  gives  place  to  a  pale 
liiiikish  or  white  color  after  immersion  in  the  water. 

Periodical/  of  run  of  hliiehackn. — A  study  of  the  statistics  of  the  salmon  fishery  of 
the  Columbia  Hiver  collected  by  the  U.  H.  Connnission  of  Pish  and  T'lsheries  during 
tlie  past  five  or  six  years  discloses  an  interesting  feature  of  the  run  of  bliieback  salmon. 
Tlie  figures  show  that  the  fish  are  nuu'.h  more  abundant  in  the  alternate  years.  Many 
of  the  salmon-cannersand  fishermen  have  overlooked  this  fact,  which,  when  the  ?natter 
hiis  been  brought  to  their  attention,  has  been  clearly  deujonstrated  by  reference  to 
tlieir  records.    So  far  as  generalizations  may  be  made  from  the  data  at  hand,  the 

i\  C.  B.  ltii)4~18 


27't 

■r~^v 

BULLETIN   OF   THE    UNITED    STATES   FISH    COMMISSION. 

relative  abuiHlance  of  bliiebacks  durlii|Lf  any  given  season  may  be  with  certainty 
pietlic  ted.     In  tliis  respect  tbe  blueback  resembles  the  humpback  (0.  gorhtischa). 

The  greatest  abundance  i ."  the  blueback  salmon  in  the  Columbia  Kiver  corresponds 
with  the  even  years.  The  catch  in  those  seasons  so  far  exceeds  that  during  the  odd 
years  as  to  clearly  establish  tlie  contention  of  a  bi^innial  run.  Tiic  following  statistical 
data,  based  on  the  book  records  of  canners  and  others,  show  that  in  1^00  and  18i)2  tlie 
catch  of  bluebacks  wa.s  more  than  three  times  larger  than  in  1<S89  and  18!H.  Compkn? 
figuies  are  not  available  for  the  years  1893  and  1894,  but  the  information  at  ham', 
indicates,  and  the  testimony  of  the  canners  and  lisherTnen  bears  out  tiie  statement, 
that  in  the  former  year  the  run  was  snudl,  and  in  the  latter  was  larger  than  t'yv  live  or 
six  years,  and  i)robably  larger  than  ever  before  known. 

Statemenl  of  the  number  of  blueback  nahnou  caityht  on  the  Columbia  Hirer  from  1S89  to  189i,  iticlmive. 


Tears. 

Nnni'ier  of 
DbIi  vau^'ui. 

18H9 

324,  M2 

094, 471 

2>37, 8?0 

l,f/«4,308 

Igi.iO 

18»l 

1882 

As  a  matter  of  related  interest  ii;  may  be  mentioned  that  tbe  run  of  bluebacks  ia 
the  Fraser  River  is  similar  to  that  in  the  Columbia  in  its  periodicity,  the  dittcrcuce 
being  that  the  fish  are  most  abundant  in  the  odd  years.  jVn  exatninution  of  the  otlicial 
reports  of  the  Canadian  Department  of  Marine  and  Fisheries  shows  a  well-established 
T)iennial  feature  of  th...  run.  In  the  year  1893  the  i  un  was  extraordinarily  large,  con«- 
eponding  with  the  very  small  catch  in  the  Columbia,  and  immediately  preceding  tlie 
phenomenally  large  run  in  the  Columbia  in  1894.  Whether  there  is  anything  more 
than  a  mere  coincidence  in  this  alternation  in  the  abundance  of  the  fish  in  these  t^o 
gi'cat  rivers  remains  to  be  determined.  It  is  not  impossible,  however,  tha<  )ie  lisli 
entering  these  streams  belong  to  the  same  general  body,  aad  that  a  largo  run  in  one 
river  is  more  or  less  at  the  exiiense  of  the  other. 

Condition  of  the  water  as  nffecling  the  catch. — As  in  the  case  of  ail  river  flsherios, 
there  is  in  the  Columbia  a  certain  relation  between  th-i  abundance  of  fish  at  a  given 
time  and  the  resulting  catch  on  one  hand  and  the  condition  of  the  water  on  the  othei. 
The  following  notes  are  a  meager  contribution  to  the  subject  of  the  dependence  of  tbe 
catch  on  the  water.  The  unprecedentediy  high  water  which  prevailed  in  the  Columbia 
basin  in  IMay  and  -'ane,  1894,  interfered  to  some  extent  with  lishing;  with  all  foru/s  of 
ai)paratus,  although  the  damage  done  was  much  less  than  was  at  iirst  anticipated  ami 
reported.  The  most  serious  injuiy  resulting  from  the  freshets  was  done  to  the  wheels 
located  at  the  Cascades  and  The  Dalles,  where  the  riso  of  the  water  was  gicarrst, 
Ow  iig  to  the  expensive  character  of  the  wheels  the  iimincial  losses  were  very  iiciivy. 
Of  19  scow  av.d  8  stationary  wheels  in  operation  at  the  Cascades  at  the  time  the 
freshets  began,  7  of  the  former  and  4  of  the  latter  were  either  entirely  lost  or  seriously 
damaged. 

ITp  to  June  20,  1894,  the  lepoitcd  shortage  in  the  salmon  pack  of  the  Culunibi.i 
Kiver  was  due  almost  entirely  to  tbe  loss  of  time  and  -ipparatus  occasioned  by  the 
floods.  \V  th  the  subsidence  of  the  high  water  the  run  of  bluebacks  and  cbiminks 
became  so  numerous,  and  tbe  catch  of  bluebacks  in  wheels  and  pound  nets  and  of 


N0TE4   ON   THE    FI8UEK1E8   OF   THE    PACIFIC    COAST. 


275 


itli  certainty 
rbuscha). 
V  corresponds 
iiriny  the  odd 
iiif^  staiisticiil 
0  aud  18'J2  the 
)1.  Comploip 
itiou  at  liand 
le  statement, 
lan  t''>r  live  or 


li>9J,  inclusive. 


f  bluebacks  i:i 
the  ditt'oreiice 
1  of  the  orticiiil 
ell-establislicd 
ly  large,  cone- 
prec^eding  tlie 
uiything  more 
ih  in  these  tflo 
r,  tha<  heM 
irgorun  in  one 

river  flsherios, 
flsh  at  a  given 
erontl'.eothei. 
•endence  of  tbe 
u  the  Cohunbiii 
ith  all  forii/s  ol' 
mticipated  and 
e  to  the  wheels 
r  was  grc;iti>s(. 
n'e  very  heavy. 
it  the  time  tlie 
o.st  or  serioa.sly 

f  the  Coluiiibi.i 
ittsioued  by  the 
»  aud  cbinookvS 
lid  nets  aud  of 


( hinooks  in  gill  nets  was  so  large,  t'>at  the  shortage  was  overcome,  and  the  aggregate 
season's  pack  was  much  larger  than  last  year. 

Trap  fishing  in  Baker  IJay  and  the  lower  river  was  somewhi-.t  interfered  witli  by 
the  large  amount  of  driftwood  brought  down  by  the  freshet.  Many  of  the  traps, 
especially  those  on  the  edge  of  the  channel,  became  clogged  or  were  torn  liy  brnsli, 
jogs,  etc.  A  few  stakes  were  also  washed  out  by  the  high  water.  Swift  currents  and 
floating  debris  also  int€rfered  with  the  setting  of  gill  nets  and  the  hauling  of  seines. 

As  is  well  known,  the  wheels  retpiire  a  certain  amount  of  high  water  in  order  to 
do  well.  At  the  Cascades  ifc  is  found  tliat  iiie  largest  quantities  of  fish  are  taken 
when  the  height  of  the  river  is  20  to  2r>  feet  above  mean  low  water.  Several  explana- 
tions of  this  circums'ance  are  offered.  Some  hold  thut  more  fisli  are  promj)ted  to 
enter  the  river  when  an  unusually  large  volume  of  fresli  water  is  being  poured  into 
the  ocean.  Mr.  Frank  M.  Warren,  wiio  operates  wheels  extensively  and  has  had  much 
experience  in  the  nuitter,  attributes  the  larger  catcdi  during  liigh  water  to  the  fact 
that  the  nets  in  the  h)wer  river  can  not  take  so  nmny  fi.sli  and  that  a  larger  number 
are  able  to  reach  the  wheels.  During  the  prevalence  of  high  water  the  gill  nets  in 
the  lower  river  do  not  so  etl'cctually  sweep  thj  bottom,  and  new  channels  jiro  mad(H)n 
tlie  sides  of  the  river,  up  which  the  fish  may  jia.sa  uniiiwlcsfed.  For  detailed  data 
showing  the  relation  between  the  height  of  water  and  the  catch  in  wheels,  reference 
is  III  de  to  the  table  giving  the  yield  of  (tertain  wheels  at  the  Cascades. 

'Jhe  clearness  or  muddiness  of  the  water  has  an  imjjortant  bearing  on  the  snccess 
of  tbe  llshing  operations  of  trap  and  gill  net  fishermen.  Trap  nets  always  do  best 
wi;on  the  water  is  clear,  and  gill  nets  take  the  most  f'Kh  '.vhen  the  water  is  muddy. 
It  therefore  usually  happens  that  when  traps  are  making  large  catches  the  gill  nets 
are  likely  to  have  poor  luck.  The  explanation  of  these  phenomena  .seems  to  be  as 
follows:  In  muddy  water  the  salnum  swim  into  the  gill  nets  before  becoming  aware  of 
the  existence  or  nature  of  the  obstruction;  on  the  other  hand  the  leader  of  a  pound 
iiet,  with  its  hue  meshes  often  occluded  by  grass  and  other  diift  material,  acts  as  a 
soUu  barrier,  and  when  the  salmon  swim  against  it  tiiey  (|uickly  withdraw  and  move 
in  other  directions.  When  the  water  is  clear,  the  fish  readily  see  tue  gill  nets  at  some 
distance  and  do  not  attempt  to  go  tl-rough  them,  but  swim  along  the  side  of  the  nets 
and  go  louiid  the  ends.  In  the  case  of  the  leaders  of  frr!i)s,  the  lish  act  the  same  way 
and  are  ed  into  the  nets,  the  tendency  of  the  salmon  being  to  go  into  the  heart  rather 
than  toward  the  free  ends  of  the  leader,  for  the  reaso:;  fhat  the  water  becomes  deeper 
in  tho  direction  of  tli©  pocket. 

STURGEON  AND  THE  STURGiJON   FISHERY. 

CALIFOUNIA. 

The  white  sturgeon  {Acipeitfier  trdiixmoiitdintu)  is  cneof  the  most  ])romiiiciit  food- 
tishes  of  the  State,  its  edible  (pialitics  and  economic  value  being  of  high  rank.  The 
taptiiro  of  sturgeon  for  market  is  practically  restricted  to  San  Francisco  Hay  and  the 
liiwer  reaches  of  the  Siicramento  and  San  .loaquin  rivers,  The  fish  is  taken  with  large- 
iiieshe«l  gill  nets,  in  salmon  nets,  and  witli  set  or  troll  lines  jirovided  with  uubaiteil. 
barbless  hooks.  The  principal  pnit  of  the  yield  is  obtained  with  set  lines.  In  IS'.Ki, 
for  the  first  time,  a  license  was  reipiired  for  the  use  of  sturgecm  set  lines.  A  license 
leo  of  $10  was  charged  to  each  tishcnnan. 


?76 


BULLETIN  OF   THE   UMTED   STATES   FISH    COMMISSION. 


I'p  to  tlie  iniddlo  of  June,  60  licenses  had  beeu  grauted  to  flshernien,  distributed 
as  follows  ill  four  counties: 


yiiihing  center. 


Coiiuty. 


No.  of    ; 
,flHlii'riiion 


Mart  ini'Z C'onlm  Costn  . 

lUiK'lt  Itianioiiil do 

Sual  IhIiukI <lo 

Mjir»li  liUiidiiig ilo 

Antiiicli du 

.Icrsi'v  I.aiidine d<t 

Iluiildiii  Islanu Sail  Joaquin  . 

Hunici.i .Solnuo 

liiiiiU'iit  Flats I  ...do 

Hoc  iHlainl do 

I.onix  IhIhikI do 

Cut  Ott' clo 

Suiniin  Crick do 

Mont  o7  tuna do 

Hroad  SIoiikIi do 

Diitton'h do 

LakovUlo Sonniua 

Polalunia  Creek du 


The  law  by  virtue  of  which  tlie.se  licenses  are  issued  (section  (i.30  of  the  penal 
code)  has  a  limited  value  so  far  as  the  protection  of  stur;;con  is  concerned.  Its  utility 
arises  from  the  fact  that  it  enables  the  State  tish  coinniissioners  to  regulate  the  size 
of  tiie  lu.oiis  used,  to  iti'cp  a  chc'clc  on  this  method  of  fishing,  and  to  secure  a  sniiill 
fund  ^^•ith  which  to  carry  out  tlio  patrol  of  the  State  waters.  The  commissioners 
have  no  discretion  in  issuing  licenses,  and  oan  not  regulate  the  metiiods,  the  lishiiig 
eeason.  or  the  quantity  of  set  lines  employed  by  individual  (ishermen. 

The  method  of  taking  sturgeon  with  set  lines  is  generally  and  justly  considered 
very  destructivo  and  cruel.  It  probcbly  originated  in  China  and  was  for  many  years 
extensively  practiced  by  the  i  hinesc  fl.shernien  of  California.  Eecently,  however,  the 
use  of  set  lines  by  the  Chinese  has  been  interdicted. 

One  of  the  features  of  the  method  which  makes  it  e.specially  harmful  is  tbe 
destrui'tion  o<"  immature  llsh.  Very  large  ([nantities  of  sturgeon  only  1.")  or  18  inches 
long  are  often  seen  in  the  markets.  The  sacrifice  of  small  sturgeon  is  said,  however. 
to  be  unavoidable,  as  the  lish  that  are  snagged  by  the  hooks  are  injured  so  severely 
that  even  if  liberatiMl  alive  m  ist  of  Ihem  would  soon  dii'. 

Hegardiiig  the  abundance  of  sturgeon,  it  may  be  stated  that  while  fishermen  and 
dealers  acknowledge  that  the  supply  is  much  less  than  it  was  prior  to  ten  years  ago. 
still  tlie  catch  during  the  )»ast  four  or  five  years  .seems  to  have  been  about  uniform 
and  appears  to  be  undergoing  no  reducti<m. 

Sturgeon  are  usually  received  at  the  stalls  of  the  wholesale  dealers  in  a  roniui 
condition.  The  (ishermen  are  jiaid,  however,  only  for  thedecajjitated  and  eviscerated 
canvass  and  fur  the  roe.  The  latter  is  made  into  caviar  by  some  of  the  dealers.  The 
proportion  of  the  weight  of  roe  and  waste  parts  to  the  total  weight  may  be  judged 
from  the  following  figures  applying  to  a  large  female  sturgeon  examined  in  the  San 
Francisco  market  ,lune  11,  18S)4: 

Pounds. 

Tot.il  weight 243 

Weight  of  roo 51 

Weight  of  liend  and  viseern ()2 

Weight  of  (IresHud  carcass 130 


Nearlj 
of  which  c 
'•sturgeon 
liotels  stur 
cut  of  the 

Small : 
ill  San  l"'ra 
Side  of  mai 
sturgeon. 


The  St 
i  which  is  ta 
t'ornia,  is  oi 
•tmgeon  is 
.Inly  and  A 
tlic  smeit  a 
.sti-.rgeon  ol 
River  liad  i 

It  reacht 
Vit'  have  soer 

The  av 

Columbia  is 
III  1892  one 
one  weighi^ 
stiirget 

The 
streams 
attention 
regarded . 
contempt 
ing  it  in 
sturgeon 
located  on 
business, 

Practi 
barbed  ho 

Most  ( 
it  is  also  c 
close  of  tl 
iiliout  Ai)r 
a  lime  win 
l.sifj  by  i^l 
lisliery 
at  .'!iir),(KI( 
sti'adiiy  ii 
tiigether  \ 
ol  over  $1 


s-eighii 
eon  e> 
hi 


i^V 


distributed 


NOTES    ON    THE    FISHERIES   OF    THE    PACIFIC    COAST. 


277 


of  tho  penal 
.  Its  utility 
ulato,  tlic  size 
et'iire  a  sinall 
oniuiissioners 
.8,  the  fisliing 


!'• 


considered 
)r  uiany  years 
,  however,  tlie 


armful  is  tlie 
.■)  or  IS  iuclit'S 
^aid,  however. 
ed  so  severely 

fishermen  and 
ten  years  a^*'' 
ibout  unifdriii 

ers  in  a  round 
lid  eviscerated 
dealers.  The 
nay  be  judged 
lied  in  the  Sau 


rounds. 
..  243 
..     51 

. .  fi2 
..    130 


Nearly  the  entire  catch  of  sturgeon  is  consigned  to  San  Francisco,  in  tho  markets 
of  whicli  city  the  (ish  is  constantly  found.  It  is  there  known  by  the  trade  naiiios  of 
"Sturgeon,"  "bass,"  "white  salmon,"  and  "tenderloin  sole."  In  restaurants  and 
liotels  sturgeon  is  commonly  .served  as  "tenderloin  sole,"  wliich  represents  the  choicest 
cut  of  the  flsh. 

Small  numbers  of  the  green  sturgeon  (.1.  medlroKlriH)  arc  caughtand  (ind  a  market 
in  San  l-'rancisco.  The^prejudice  against  this  tish  is  too  strong,  howver,  to  permit  the 
sale  of  many,  and  the  price  received  is  less  than  half  that  commanded  by  the  white 
sturgeon. 

THE   COLUMBIA   RIVER.  '  ' 

The  sturgeon  utilized  in  the  Columbia  is  the  whice  sturgeon,  the  same  .species 
which  is  taken  in  Calitrruia.  The  green  sturgeon  is  also  found  there,  but,  as  in  Cali- 
fornia, is  only  sparing'y  eateu,  and  in  most  places  is  totally  discarded.  The  white 
•tuigeon  is  found  in  t.ie  river  every  month  in  the  year,  but  it  is  most  numenms  in 
.luly  and  August,  when  thesardines  are- running,  and  in  January  and  February,  when 
tlie  smeit  are. found  in  abundance  The  sturgeon  feeds  on  these  fish.  Writing  of  tho 
sti-.rgeon  of  the  west  coast  at  a  tii.i"  when  its  commercial  importance  in  the  Columbia 
Kiver  had  not  brought  it  into  tne  prominence  it  has  since  had,  Dr.  Jordan  .said: 

It  reiichos  a  lenjjth  of  8  or  10  feel  or  more,  and  is  said  to  attain  u  weight  of  400  to  500  pounds. 
Wi'  liave  seen  noiio  of  over  150  )toiiiKls  weiglit. 

The  average  gross  weight  of  sturgeon  taken  in  the  regular  sturgeon  fishery  of  the 
Columbia  is  about  150  pounds.  Fish  weighing  r»(M)  iionnds  and  ev«'U  moie  are  not  rare. 
In  1892  one  weighing  8(l0"pounds  was  taken  off  iv  Point,  and  in  the  previous  year 
one  weighing  848  pounds  was  caught  near  Kalamn  i his  being  probably  the  largest 
sturgeon  ever  taken  on  the  west  coast. 

The  history  of  the  .sturgeon  fishery  of  the  Columbia  ('■  is  that  of  most  other 
streams  in  which  the  sturgeon  has  been  assiduously  souglit.  I'or  many  ytiirs  no 
attention  was  paid  to  the  fish  and  its  value  was  not  recoguizeii.  It  was  gi-  'rally 
regarded  .as  a  nuisance  by  the  salmon  fishermen,  who  emphatically  expressed  their 
contempt  for  such  a  fish  whenever  it  was  caught  in  the  salmon  nets  by  qui<kly  knock 
iiig  it  in  the  head  aud  throwing  it  away.  The  institution  of  a  regulai  lisheiy  for 
sturgeon  dates  from  1888.  During  that  year  some  fishing  camps  were  ex  limcntally 
kxated  on  the  river,  andtheabundance  of  fi.sh  led  to  the  establishment  of  a  i)ermanent 
business,  contingent  on  the  presence  of  fish. 

Practically  the  entire  catch  has  been  taken  with  set  lines  armed  with  unb  ed, 
barbed  hooks. 

Most  of  the  fishing  has  been  done  in  that  part  of  the  river  below  Kalann:  ill  hough 
it  is  also  carried  on  as  far  up  as  the  Cascades.  Tho  fishing  sf-ison  extends  from  the 
(lose  of  the  salmoii-jtacking.  al»out  August  10,  to  the  0])eiiii)g  of  the  salmon  season, 
iiliout  Ajiril  10.  The  sturgeon  fi.shery  thus  occupies  the  attentioii  of  the  fishermen  at 
II  lime  when  other  fishing  has  been  suspended.  The  in<iuiries  conducted  in  188!»  and 
1S(I'2  by  Mr.  W.  A.  Wilcox,  of  this  (kunmission,  showed  that  in  the  first  year  of  this 
lishery  (1888)  nearly  l,000,(tOO  pounds  of  dres.sed  fresh  i"id  pickled  sturgeon,  valued 
at  .'itir),000  to  the  fishermen,  were  shipped  frcuii  points  on  the  river.  The  business 
steadily  increased  until,  by  1892,  over  2,9()0,0(M»  pounds  of  dressed  fish  were  sold,  which, 
t(ii;cther  with  various  secondary  products  (caviar,  isinglass, and  "bone"),  had  a  value 
01  over  $41,000. 


278 


BULLETIN    OP    THE    UNITED    STATES    PISH    COMMISSION. 


The  sturgeon  meat  is  practically  all  shipped  ea8t,tlie  bulk  of  it  going  to  Sandusky, 
Oliio.  Tiie  carcasses  arc  cut  into  pieces  of  convenient  size,  which  are  frozen  solid  and 
then  iD^ided  into  rctVigerutor  cars  for  transportation.  Up  to  tlie  time  of  Mr.  Wilcox's 
visit  in  18013  the  sturgeon  iiad  been  found  in  ample  abuiidance.for  the  purposes  of  tiic 
Hrnis  engaged,  but  at  that  time  the  llshermen  were  beginning  to  experience  some  ditli- 
culty  in  taking  as  nniny  (is!i  as  formerly.  They  were  obliged  to.move  fiom  one  llshiiij,' 
ground  to  anotiicr  more  fre(iuontly  than  had  previously  been  necessary  and  they  were 
compelled  to  use  larger  quantities  of  apparatus  in  or<ler  to  keep  up  the  catch.  In  the 
season  of  l,S!)3-04  tliert!  was  a  very  perceptible  decrease  in  the  supply  and  the  fishery 
was  generally  regarded  as  bising  on  the  decline.  Under-date  of  February  Id,  189-t,  Mr. 
C.  B,  Trescott,  who  is  extensively  engaged  in  sturgeo.i  fishing  and  shipping,  wrote 
to  the  l"'isli  Commission  as  follows,  regarding  the  condition  of  this  industry  on  the 
Cohunbia  Kiver: 

Sturgeon  lishiiig  lias  coiuplctoly  failed  on  tho  Coluniliifi.  There  lias  been  no  flshcnnght  since  Inst 
Novouilicr  to  iiiiioimt  to  iinythiug.  At  present  tho  entire  <?atcli  on  tlie«  river  docs  not  aiiioiint  to  over 
1  ton  of  (liesscd  tinh  a  day,  and  is  growing  less.  We  do  not  expect  to  be  able  to  lisli.longer  tl:  au  the 
l.'tli  ol'  March,  and  wliiit  few  wo  get  now  do  not  pay  Cor  handling.  At  present  wo  do  not  h^'vo  niiiili 
piitli  ill  tlio  sturgeon  biisiiiess  on  the  Columbia.  Usually  wo  have  a  good  run  of  tish  in  January  or 
Kobniary,  but  thercaro  no  linli  tliis  year  and  there  is  every  indii^atiou  of  the  iisli  being  caught  oat. 
We  have  thought  that  we  would, have  our  usual  run  of  sturgeon  on  the  Coluiubiii  iu  .January  uud  Feb- 
ruary. Tlio  sturgeon  season  will  begin  again  on  the  l.'itli  of  August,  and  if  wo  do  not  have  our  usual 
run  offish  then  it  will  p-  •  ihat  tho  sturgeiui  lishing  is  done  for  here.  There  is  every  indication  of 
the  sturgeon  business  havl'ig  seen  its  best  d.ays  on  this  coast.  The  total  catch  for  thisiseasou  has  not 
been  25  per  cent  of  tho  catch  ;  st  season,  and  what  lish  were  caught  were  caught  in  August,  Septem- 
ber, and  October. 

The  suggestive  remarks  of  Mr.  Trescott  are  in  accord  with  what  m'glit  iiave  been 
expected  as  a  result  of  the  useless  waste  of  enormous  numbers  of  small  fish  taken  iu 
wheels,  pound  nets,  and  other  nets,  su])[)lemented  in  the  past  five  years  by  tho  very 
active  use  of  set  lines,  by  which  very  large  (piautitiesof  spawning  fish  have  been  sacri- 
ficed,    llegarding  the  destruction  of  sturgeon  in  wheels  iu  1888  it  wao  said: 

The  wheels  often  take  iu  a  day  many  tons  of  sturgeon. less  than  50  pounds  in  weight.  Such  are 
not  marketable  and  are  now  thrown  into  tho  river.  Their  ntilization  would  bo  a  blessing  to  the 
fisheriuaii,  for  they  now  help  to  contain  iiiato  the  water. — (Report  on  the  Fisheries  ortho  Pacific  Const 
U.  S.  Fish  Comniission  Keport,  1888.) 

In  an  interview  with  Mr.  M.  J.  Kinney,  of  Astoria,  he  made  the  following  remarks 
concerning  sturgeon  in  the  lower  river: 

In  1893  there  was  a  good  sujiply  of  sturgeon  The  tish  sold  for.2  cents  a  ])onnd.  The  fishermen 
as  a  whole  did  not  do  well,  however,  altliough  the  price  received  was  double  that  of  the  previous  yenr. 
Iu  187!)  the  sturgeon  were  so  thick  in  Baker  Bay  tli.'t  we  did  not  consider  it  safe,  early  iu  th<i  seasmi, 
to  put  our  gill  nets  out.  The  tish  woro  so  numerous  'ind  large  that  they  wei-e  able  to  def  iroy  a  great 
amount  of  netting.  I'or  yours  every  sturgeon  taken  was  mutilated  or  killed  with  an -^x  and  thrown 
back  into  the  water.  Theishorcs  of  the  river  would  be  lined  with  dead  sturgeon,  and  numbers  could 
alwiiys  be  si'en  tloating  lown  the  river.     It  is  quite  di      rent  now. 

The  destruction  of  .^niall  unmarketable  >turgeon  in  trap  nets  must  bo  extremely 
large  in  tho  course  of  a  sea.son.  The«  salnmn  fishernn'n  pay  little  attention  to  the 
sturgeon  and  have  no  interest  in  the  preservaiion  of  the  supply.  A  salmon  trap  near 
Sand  l.sland.  lifted  on  June .23.  was  observed. to  contain  over  50  sturgeon,  none  over  " 
feet  long,  and  .some  only  10  or  12  inches  long,  all-of  which  were  dumped  into  the  boat 
and  consequently  destroyed.  On  this  occasion  only  a  few  salmon  were  caught,  which 
were  gatled  out  of  the  net,  and  it  would  have  been  an  easy  matter  to  permit  the  small 
sturgeon  to  escape. 


When 
when  the  1 
into  consid 
;lll(l  must  I 
cult  to  avo 
ill  tho  Colli 
\\>h  in  the 
increase  in 

Inquir 
(Aufinilla  c 
care  is  exe 
i|U('ntly  e.N 
occa.sionall 
lampreys.* 

The  oc 
three-tootli 
uiia,  and  m 
liasin.  Th 
to  take  the 
ixcejit  in  t 
of  asccndii 
tiicy  are  eii 
li;ind.  Th( 
were  forme 

The  la 

At  the 
rocks  at  th 
covered  w 
several  lay 
piofuse  gr 
;he  currei 
tlic  bottoi 
tliemselvc 
ti;e  rocks 
iumdrcds 
tlio.so  whi< 
-alt  water 
synchro no 

It  a  PI 
these  falls 
(iitliculty. 
tlie  postei 
wliippt'd  a 
were  .seen 
eiiiat'ated 

"  A  few 


0  SaiuUisky, 
en  solid  and 

Mr.  Wilcox's 
ri>ose8ot'tlic 
10  sonse  dilli- 

1  oiui  li.shiiij,'- 
11(1  they  were 
iitcli.    Til  the 

I  tlie  li.sliery 
10,1894,  Mr. 
ppiiig,  wrote 
ustry  oil  the 

nn^ht  ninco  Inst 
aiiiouiit  to  over 
l()nj;i*r  tl  ui  the 
)  luit  hi'.vo  iimcli 
li  in  Jainiiiry  or 
iii{5  caiifjht  out. 
iniiary  uud  Feb- 
t  have  our  uHiial 
!ry  iudication  of 
jiBPasou  has  not 
August,  Septem- 

flit  iiavebeen 
lisli  taken  iu 
s  by  the  very 
ivo  been  sacri- 
aid : 

oight.  Such  :\re 
V  lilossiug  to  the 
bo  Pacific  Coast. 

)\viug  remarks 

'I'he  flshermen 
lio  previous  year. 
:ly  iu  tl"i  seasdu, 
3  (lePtroy  a  great 
n  -ix  ami  thrown 
d  iiumberH  could 

t  bo  extremely 
ttentiou  to  tlie 
Imon  trap  iieiir 
II,  none  over  " 
I  into  the  boat 
caught,  which 
rinit  the  small 


NOTES   ON   THE    FISHERIES   OF    THE   PACIFIC    CO.VST. 


279 


When  the  large  number  of  salmon  traps  in  the  lower  Ccdumbia  is  recalled,  and 
« lien  the  larger  oi'  smaller  (luantitit's  of  sturgeon  caught  at  nearly  every  lift  are  taken 
into  consideration,  it  may  be  readily  understood  that  the,  aiinnal  loss  must  be  enorniou.s 
iiiid  must  have  had  an  appreciable  inlluence  on  the  abunilmice  and  catch.  It  is  dilli- 
iiilt,  to  avoid  the  conclusion  that  the  i)resent  scarcity  of  stuigeon  of  marketable  size 
ill  the  Columbia  Itiver  mu.st  be  at  least  partly  attributable  to  the  destruction  of  small 
li>h  in  the  manner  stated,  which  ba.s  been  becoming  greater  each  year  with  the 
increase  in  the  traps. 

LAMPREYS. 

Iu(iuirie.s  regarding  the  results  of  the  attempted  acclimatization  of  the  eel 
(Aiifliiillit  chrysyjxi)  on  this  coast  arc  apt  to  elicit  misleading  information  unless  great 
(lire  is  exercised.  In  the  San  Franci.sco  markets  one  learns  that  eels  are  not  infre- 
i|iiently  exi>osed  for  sale,  and  that  both  salt-water  and  river  Hshermen  catch  them 
(iccasionally,  but  an  examination  of  the  reported  eels  usually  shows  them  to  bo 
lampreys.* 

The  only  "eel"  of  the  west  coast  that  attracts  the  notice  of  rtshermeu  is  the 
tluee-toothed  lamprey  {Eiitosplicitiis  tridi'iifatiin),  which  ranges  from  Monterey  to  Can- 
ada, and  a.scends  all  the  major  streams.  It  is  esjiecially  abundant  in  the  Columbia 
basin.  The  San  Francisco  market  steamers  llshing  imranzellasott'  Drake  l{ay  are  said 
to  take  these  "eels''  at  almost  every  haul.  The  lamprey  has  no  commercial  value 
except  in  the  region  of  the  Columbia  liiver  and  its  tributaries.  IJerc  i.  ;ias  the  habit 
(if  ascending  the  streams  in  large  bodies  and  of  clinging  to  the  rocks  at  falls,  where 
they  are  entirely  oblivious  to  the  presence  of  man  and  may  be  easily  picked  off  by 
hand.  They  are  considered  excellent  bait  for  sturgeon,  and  several  hundred  barrels 
were  formerly  salted  annually  for  that  purpose. 

The  largest  runs  of  lampreys  are  often  coincident  with  tho.se  of  salmon. 

At  the  falls  of  the  Willamette  River,  near  Oregon  City,  Oreg.,  on  June  23,  the 
rocks  at  the  parti(!ular  part  of  the  falls  where  salmon  ascend  were  i.t  times  completely 
covered  with  laini)reys.  In  places  where  the  force  of  the  current  was  least  they  were 
several  layers  deep,  and  at  a  short  distance  the  rocks  appeared  to  be  covered  with  a 
liiofuse  growth  of  kelp  or  other  Avater  plants.  A  lamprey  dislodged  by  the  force  of 
the  current  or  by  an  angling  rod  would  often  carry  half  a  dozen  others  with  it  to 
tlic  bottom  of  the  falls.  At  the  sides  of  the  falls,  numbers  of  lampreys  had  drawn 
themselves  entirely  out  of  the  water  to  avoid  the  current  or  remained  hanging  from 
the  rocks  v.itli  only  their  tails  iu  the  water.  In  the  turbid  water  beneath  the  falls 
liiiiidrcds  of  lampreys  could  be  .seen  trying  to  get  a  position  on  the  rocks,  some  being 
those  which  had  been  swept  from  the  rocks  above,  others  being  new  arrivals  from  the 
silt  water.  This  noteworthy  run  had  been  in  progress  for  about  a  week,  ami  was 
synchronous  with  the  in()\  ement  of  chinook  salmon  els(!wliere  alluded  to. 

It  appeared  to  me  that  only  a  very  small  i)iirt  of  the  run  could  ever  surmount 
these  falls,  over  which,  as  has  been  stated,  salmon  must  have  passed  with  the  greatcist 
ilillicnlty.  The  bodies  of  most  of  them  showed  the  etVects  of  the  rough  usage  received; 
the  posterior  part  of  some  was  worn  oft'  fully  one  fourth  the  total  body  lengl  h  by  being 
whipped  against  the  surface  of  the  rocks  while  the  head  remained  fixed;  and  luiiiibers 
were  seen  to  lo.se  their  hold,  fall  back  in  the  water,  and  float  away  apiJiircntly  dead, 
eiiiac'ated,  and  covered  with  bruises  and  fungus. 


'  A.  few  true  eeln  have  been  takru  in  Ciililoniia,  but  tliey  are  now  very  rare  aud  Heldoni  seen. 


280 


HULLKTIN    or   THE    UNITED    STATES    FISH   COMMISSION. 


THE  SPINY  LOBSTER  OR  CRAWFISH  (Panulirus  interruptus). 

Tills  valuable  ciustaccaii  is  icfjularly  exjwsert  for  sale  in  tlie  markets  of  San 
Francisco  and  other  cities  of  tlio  Pacific  coast.  Jta  distribution,  howevei',  is  restricted, 
as  it  is  not  abundant  and  not  taken  in  noticeable  (jnantities  north  of  Santa  Barbara 
County.  South  of  that  limit  it  is  extremely  numerous  ami  exists  in  sutHcient  abun- 
dance to  sui)idy  all  luesent  denninds. 

With  commendable  forcsifjht  the  California  fish  commissioners  have  thoujiht  tho 
time  miylit  come  when  unrestricted  capture  of  the  '•crawfish"  would  preatly  reduce 
the  i)roducti()n,  and  have  taken  measures  to  avert,  as  long  as  may  be,  a  diminution  in 
the  sni)i)ly.  While  no  laws  appliiablo  to  the  entire  State  have  thus  far  been  enacte<l, 
several  counties  have,  at  the  solicitation  of  the  fish  commissioners,  passed  local  ordi- 
nances. The  followiufj  acti(m  by  Los  Anjieles  County  has  also  been  taken  by  San  Diego 
and  Ventura  counties;  other  counties  interested  will  soon  adopt  similar  regulations: 

Every  porsou  who,  in  tlio  county  of  Los  Anl;olo^,  iStato  of  California,  shall  take,  catch,  or  kill,  or 
bcUh,  cxposcH  or  otfcrH  fur  sair,  or  lias  in  bis  iiossossion,  any  lobster  or  (Tawlish  between  the  15tb  day 
of  May  and  tho  ir>th  day  of  .Inly  of  each  year,  sliall  lie  guilty  of  a  niisdeiucanor. 

Every  person  who,  in  tho  cor.nty  of  Los  Angeles,  Stateof  California,  shall  at  any  time  buy,  sell, 
barter,  exch.i'igc,  offer  or  expose  for  sali!,  or  bavo  in  Iiis  possession,  any  lobster  or  crawfish  of  less 
thau  1  pound  in  weight,  shall  be  guilty  of  u  misdemeanor. 

The  purport  of  the  first  of  these  provisions  is  to  secure  the  protection  of  the  spiny 
lobster  during  the  i)eriod  when  the  eggs  carried  by  the  female  reach  maturity  and 
hatch.  All  the  female  lobsters  examined  by  the  writer  in  Jlay  and  June  had  eggs 
attached,  and  it  is  evident  that  the  close  .season  stipulated  in  the  ordinance  quoted  is 
the  proper  one.  The  eggs  are  of  a  brilliant  brick-dust  red  color,  and  are  much  smaller 
thau  the  eggs  of  the  true  lobster  {Astacun  (imcricanus)  of  the  east  coast,  their  diameter 
being  between  one  third  and  one-half  that  of  the  latter. 

The  spiny  lobster  is  caught  in  a  kind  of  dii)  net,  or  drop  net,  similar  to  the 
apparatus  emi)loyed  for  taking  crabs.  It  is  baited  with  fish  or  meat,  lowered  into  the 
water  from  a  boat,  and  raised  at  intervals.  Kegular  lobster  pots'  are  also  employed 
at  various  jtlaces. 

Spiny  lobster.s  are  shipped  to  nnuket  alive  in  sacks  holding  from  50  to  7.")  pounds, 
and  are  displayed  on  the  counters  of  the  dealers,  like  lobsters  on  the  east  copst. 
Considerable  numbers  are  also  at  times  boiled  by  tho  dealers  and  sold  in  tl.  tt 
condition.  When  cooked,  the  spiny  lobster  acquires  the  intense  red  color  which  in 
the  true  lobster  is  so  familiar. 

Some  of  the  spiny  lobsters  exposed  for  sale  are  very  large,  and  others  are 
relatively  quite  small.  Examples  observed  by  the  writer  on  June  1,  in  San  Francisco, 
weighed  as  much  as  8J  ])(>unds,  and  those  weighing  10  pounds  can  not  be  rare. 
Six-pound  and  7-pound  individuals  are  common.  The  average  weight  of  those  sold 
in  San  Francisco  is  between  li  and  4  ])ounds. 

The  sjiiny  lobster  ai)pear8  to  be  a  more  active,  if  not  a  more  intelligent,  animal 
than  the  true  lobster.  It  easily  moves  through  the  water  with  greater  speed  than  the 
eastern  htbster,  and  it  also  seems  endowed  with  a  faculty  for  escaping  capture  that 
tho  Atlantic  representative  <loes  not  i>ossess.  Experiments  nnule  Avith  the  typical  i)ot, 
which  is  so  eflicacuous  in  the  taking  of  the  lobster,  have  demonstrated  that  the  spiny 
lobster  is  often  able  to  escape  from  that  form  of  traj).  The  California  Fish  Company, 
of  Los  Angeles  and  San  I'e.dro,  had  a  large  number  of  lobster  pots  made  with  vertical 
and  obliipie  entrances  for  the  captureof  spiny  lobsters  to  be  used  for  canning  purposes 
at  its  factory  in  San  Pedro,  but,  according  to  the  reports  of  the  company,  little  success 


il 


ets  of  San 
restricted, 
HiirbiUiv 
■ioiit  iibuii- 


lioiijilit  the 
ll,\  reduce 

iiiiiutioii  ill 
11  enacted, 
local  ordi- 
Saii  iJiego 

egiilatious: 

•h,  or  kill,  (ir 
the  15tli  (Iny 

imo  Imy,  soli, 
awCish  of  less 

^f  tlie  spiny 
aturity  and 
ic  had  ejigs 
ce  quoted  is 
inch  smaller 
eir  diameter 

nilar  to  the 
red  into  the 
30  employed 

0  75  pounds, 

east  co?st, 

lold  in  tilt 

lor  which  in 

others  are 
II  Francisco, 
lot  be  rare, 
if  those  sold 

;eut,  animal 
!cd  than  the 
apture  that 
typical  pot, 
at  the  spiny 
h  Company, 
rith  vertical 
iifj:  j)urposcs 
ittlc  success 


NOTES   ON   THE    FISHERIES   OF   THE   PACIFIC   COAST. 


'^81 


attended  their  use.    It  was  stated  that  the  "crawfish"  would  enter  the  pots,  er.t  the 
liait,  and  then  depart. 

lu  the  absence  of  other  similar  crustaceans,  the  spiny  lobster  occupies  an  important 
]place  among  the  iKpiatic  food  animals  of  the  west  coast.  It  is,  however,  much  inferior 
to  the  eastern  lobster,  the  Hesh  being  coarser  and  less  tender. 

TERRAPIN  AND  TERRAPIN-FISHING. 

The  question  is  often  asked  by  eastern  flshermen  and  dealers  whether  the  diamond- 
hack  terrapin  is  found  on  tlie  Pacilic  coast,  and,  if  not,  whether  there  is  an  accei)tablc 
substitute  therefor. 

Tlie  diamond-back  terrapin  ( Molnvh-mmnn  pnhistris)  does  not  exist  on  t  he  wi^st  coast, 
and  the  genus  is  not  there  represented.  TIk^  ("alilornia  terrai)in  (ChHopiis  nun  mo- 
ratus),  the  only  member  of  the  order  which  has  as  yet  attained  commenMal  inomincnce 
on  the  coast,  is  much  inferior  to  the  diamond  back  in  food  value.  It  inhabits  the 
rivers  and  freshwater  ])oiids  west  of  tlic  Sierras,  and  its  range  extends  from  Mon- 
terey to  the  Canadian  border.  It  prefers  warm,  sluggish  water,  and  is  especially 
abundant  in  California. 

The  nets  used  in  this  fishery  are  simple,  inexpensive  fyke  nets,  although  they  are 
not  designated  as  such  anywhere  in  the  State,  being  called  "turtle  nets"  and  "turtle 
traps."  Tlie  prohibition  by  the  State  of  the  use  of  set  nets  of  any  kind  makes  this 
fishery  illegal,  but  the  law  was  enacted  for  the  purpose  of  preventing  the  captnvc  of 
shad,  striped  bass,  and  other  desirable  fresh-water  fish  on  the  spawning-grounds  or 
in  an  immature  condition,  and  was  not  intended  to  limit  the  turtle  fishery.  So  long, 
therefore,  as  these  nets  take  onlj  terrapin  and  catfish,  carp,  chubs,  and  other  similar 
species  generally  regarded  as  nuisances,  the  legal  question  is  waived. 

A  fyke  examined  by  me  at  Sherman  Island  in  the  San  Joa(|uin  Kiver  on  June  10, 
1894,  may  be  described  as  follows:  Tlie  framework  consisted  of  .'{  light  iron  hoops  of 
uniform  size,  20  inohes  in  diameter.  A  short  funnel,  with  a  horizontal, elliptical  opening 
about  0  inches  wide,  extended  from  the  first  hoop,  the  aperture  being  rather  nearer 
the  top  than  the  bottom  of  the  netting.  It  was  lield  mi  position  l>y  means  of  cords 
running  to  the  second  hocp.  Tiie  size  of  the  mesh  is  .about  2-in(!b  stretch.  The  net 
is  kept  in  position  by  means  of  stakes,  to  which  the  first  hoop  and  pot  are  tied,  and 
also  by  a  stake  placed  on  each  side  of  each  hooji  ])ierciiig  the  netting  and  driven  into 
the  bottom.  The  bait  is  suspended  by  a  cord  from  the  top  of  the  sticond  hoop.  A 
jiieco  of  rope  attached  to  either  side  of  the  lower  part  of  the  first  hoop  facilitates  tlio 
lifting  of  the  net.     ^'alue  about  $1  or  $2. 

The  terrapin  are  very  numerous  in  tlie  marshy  lands  <if  tlie  Sacramento  San 
.loaquin  delta  and  around  San  Francisco  Bay.  As  many  as  10  to  20  turtles  arc  sometimes 
cauglit  in  a  traji  at  one  lift.  Their  size  is,  however,  small  as  compared  with  tlie 
diamond-back  terrapin  of  tlic  east  coast,  and  examples  over  ii  inches  in  length  are  not 
common,  although  the  species  is  said  to  attain  a  length  of  8  inches.  They  are  gener- 
ally called  "  turtles  "  l)y  the  fishermen. 

Much  of  the  teirajiin  fishing  in  California  is  semiprofessional  or  incidental  to 
s.ilmon-fishing,  althougli  a  few  persons  devote  considerable  time  to  the  business,  and 
may  bo  classed  as  regular  "turtle"  fishermen.  The  greater  part  of  the  catch  is 
marketed  in  San  Francisco,  where  the  terrapin  are  exposed  for  sale  throiiglioiit  the 
year.  The  annual  sales  in  that  city  are  about  l,."i00  dozen,  with  an  average  value  of 
■i"  I  per  dozen. 


282 


IllLLKTIN   OV   THE   UNITED   STATES   FISH    COMMISSION. 


The  ronditioiiH  seem  excelloiit  for  tlie  successful  iutioductioii  (tf  the  (liiunond  back 
terrii])iii  to  t lie  west  coast.  The  cxi 'iisivc  salt  iiiaislios  aioiirid  Haii  Francisco  May 
and  in  other  ])hi<'es  woidd  ttonbtlcss  su^^nly  a  snitabhi  habitat  for  the  aninntl,  wiiose 
hifjrh  food  vahu^  wouhl  in  time  bring  it  into  .Motive  demand  and  stimulate  cultivation 
and  a  profitable  trade. 

THE  MARKET  FISH  AND  THE  FISH  TRADE  OF  SAN  FRANCISCO. 

There  are  few  cities  in  the  United  States  in  which  such  a  largo  variety  of  fresh  tlsh 
is  found  in  the  markets  or  in  which  the  sui)i»ly  is  so  constant  as  in  San  Francisco.  Not 
only  is  there  a  varied  fish  faumi  in  the  innncdiate  vicinity  of  the  city  that  is  utilized 
by  a  large  resident  hshing  itoi)ulation,  but  the  fiesh  and  .salt  waters  of  tiie  three  coast 
States  contribute  their  rich  resources  to  the  city's  supply.  Over  100  species  may  bo 
seen  in  the  markets  during  a  season,  and  i)erhaiis  half  that  nund)er  may  be  found  at 
almost  any  time.  The  (piantity  of  fresh  fish  landed  and  sold  in  San  Francisco,  as 
determined  by  the  agents  of  the  Fish  ("onimission,  is  from  9,000,000  to  12,000,000 
lM)unds  annually,  worth  to  dealers  from  ijtOOO.OOO  to  $800,000. 

Among  the  fishes  which  are  handled  in  largest  quantities  in  San  Francisco  are 
the  salmon,  flounders,  herring,  shad,  smelt,  sturgeon,  suckers,  anchovies,  cultus-cod, 
viviparous  perch,  and  rock-cod,  of  each  of  which  more  than  100,000  pounds  are  annu- 
ally S(dd. 

During  the  latter  part  of  May  and  the  first  of  June,  when  I  visited  the  whole.sale 
markets  regularly,  the  following  Ushes  were  observed.  Tiie  scientific  names  are 
necessary  for  their  proper  ideutilication;  the  common  names  given  are  those  heard 
in  San  Francisco.    A  few  data  collected  concerning  these  are  added. 


FISHES. 

Acipenser  medirostris.  (Ireen  Sturgeon.  Rarely  exposed  for  sale.  Brings  about  linlfthe  price  of  the 
white  sturgeon. 

Acipenser  transmontanua.  SliirfleoH;  ffliite  Sturgeon.  Of  constant  occiirreuce  in  the  market.  A  great 
many  Hniiill  fisU  under  2  foot  in  length  received.  The  bnlk  of  the  supply  is  from  the  Sacramento 
Htver  region. 

AmeiuruB  albidus.     Caljhb. 

AmeiuruB  uebulosus.  Catjish.  These  exotics  arc  .Tlniost  invariably  sent  to  the  market  in  a  dressed 
condition;  it  is  only  in  that  state  that  they  meet  with  any  sale.  The  dealers  do  not  encourage 
the  sliininent  of  cattish  by  the  tishermen,  and  the  (|uiintitics  sold  are  dispro|)ortionate  to  the 
abundance  of  the  fish. 

PtyohccheiluB  oregonensis.  Pike.  This  largo  roprese-itative  of  the  minnow  family  is  sent  to  the 
.San  rranciseo  market  ehietly  from  the  Sacramento  and  .San  .Joniiiiin  rivers.  The  fish  is  large 
enough  to  bo  taken  in  salmon  gill  nets,  but  it  ha.s  such  littlo  market  value  that  it  receives  scant 
attention  from  the  sahnon  tishermen.  Fish  weighing  4  to  7  pounds  were  seen.  The  price  is  only 
2  or  3  cents  a  pound,  anil  the  demand  is  chielly  among  the  Chinese. 

Cyprinus  carpio.  <\irp.  The  carp  docs  not  rank  high  as  a  food-(i.sh  in  San  Francisco,  although  con- 
siderable (|uantities  are  annually  sold.  The  local  Chinese  fishermen  catch  a  part  of  the  supply, 
the  renuiinder  coming  from  the  .Sacramento  and  San  .loaijuin  rivers.  The  receipts  give  no  idea 
of  the  abundance  of  the  fish,  and  doulitless  the  catch  could  be  easily  increased  fifty  times  we'e 
it  reciuired  by  the  trade.     The  average  price  of  the  carp  is  about  2  cents  a  pound. 

Clupea  sagax.  Sdrilhie.  Very  few  sardines  were  seen,  and,  as  elsewhere  stated  in  this  report,  the 
fish  is  much  less  abundant  in  San  Francisco  Bay  than  it  was  comparatively  few  years  ago. 


iiinoiid  back 

inci.scd  Hay 

iniiil,  whose 

(Miltivatiou 


iCO. 

of  fresh  flsli 
icisco.  Not 
t  is  utilized 
)  tiireo  coast 
cies  may  bo 
bo  found  at 
lancisco,  as 
o  12,000,000 

raiiciseo  are 
,  ciiltus-cod, 
lis  are  aiiim- 

le  whole.sftle 

names  are 

those  heard 


the  price  of  the 

arkot.    A  greut 
;ho  S.ici'iiiuciito 


let  in  a  dressed 
not  encodragc 
rtionate  to  the 

is  sunt  to  the 
^lio  fish  is  largo 
t  recoires  scant 
he  price  is  only 

,  although  con- 
;  of  the  sdppl.v, 
its  give  no  idea 
ifty  times  were 

this  report,  tlio 
years  ago. 


NOTES   ON   THE    FISIIEHIES   OK   THE    PACIFIC    COAST. 


283 


Clupea  sapidisslma.  Shad.  \'or.v  iidMicroKS  iit  all  tiiiirs.  ImkoicI  in  the  niarkels  every  niontli  in 
greater  or  less  al)nn(l((n('e.  The  wdpply  greatl.v  exceeds  th<^  diMnand,  jind  the  jiriee  is  so  low  that 
the  shad  heconu'S  availahle  even  for  the  inipeennlods  Chinaiiian.  The  dealers  ar(<  (ddiged  to 
restrict  the  receipts,  other\viH(s  the  markets  would  be  mntinnally  overrnn.  The  prices  paid  liy 
the  dealers  vary  from  one-haifu  cent  to  I  eeiils  a  ]>odnd,  the  average  lieiiig  \!  cents.  As  lini- 
shad  (IS  ant  ever  sei'ii  in  the  markets  of  the  Kasteni  States,  weighing  fiddi  I  to  7  pounds,  may 
now  often  li''  liodght  at  retail  in  .San  Francisco  for  10  to  Ifi  cents.  The  supply  comes  chielly 
from  local  lisherineii  in  .San  FcanciHco  Hay  and  from  the  .Sacramento  Uivcr. 

Stolephorus  ringens.  .1  hc/iocj/.  T'his  was  perhaps  the  most  abiindadt  tish  in  the  markets  ddriiig  the 
period  (if  my  visit. 

Oncorhyiichus  chouicha.  Chinonk  mlmon.  I'lie  sales  of  I'reNli  salmon  in  San  Francisco  amount  to 
over  3,000,(H)0  podiids  iidiiudlly,  the  larger  part  of  which  ([diiutity  consists  of  chinook  salmon 
and  conies  from  the  waters  of  California,  The  tish  art^  most  common  in  the  markets  during  .\pril, 
May,  and  Angust,  but  are  exposed  in  all  th(^  other  months,  except  Heptemlier,  during  which 
month  there  is  u  close  season,  when  the  salmon  receipts  are  from  points  onlside  tlie  .stale.  The 
following  statement  of  the  quantities  of  salmon  handled  by  the  San  Francisco  dealers  in  each 
month  in  18U3  and  lK!)t  (to  ,liine  30)  has  been  prepared  from  the  rcconls  of  the  dealers,  and  has 
been  furnished  by  the  California  Fish  Commission,  through  .Mr.  .lohn  1'.  Habcock,  chief  deputy : 

Statement  of  the  receipts  of  California  freth  saltnun  Itij  the  San  I'ranciuro  dealer). 


Month*. 


1893. 


January..... 

February  

March 

April 

May 

June 

Jul.v 

A(i|;ust 

Soplfmlsr... 

Oct«b4*r 

November  . . . 

Ileceiuber 

UuL-lasftitled* 


Total  . 


Poundn. 
137,  4611 

03, 263 
139,  401 
374,  478 
325, 170 

70,  216 
140,217 
575,800 


240,  7.13 
183,  780 
155,000 
135,  455 


2,  588,  OOl 


1894. 


Pound*. 
128, 556 
103.  801 
163, 131 
211,562 
242. 126 
138,  675 


84,084 


1,  071,  925 


*  Salmon  bandied  by  minor  dealers,  whose  monthly  receipts  can  not  he  shown  separately. 

Data  are  available  showing  for  much  the  larger  part  of  the  salmon  receipts  the  sources 
■whence  they  came.  The  Sacratneuto  basin  fdrnishes  more  than  two-thirds  tln^  (|iiautity  hamlled. 
Eel  Hiver,  in  Humboldt  County,  and  the  ocean  adjacent  to  Point  Keyes  also  supply  a  consider- 
able proportion.     The  monthly  receipts,  specified  by  localities,  are  shown  iu  the  following  table : 

Statement  for  a  part  of  the  fresh-Balmon  receipts  in  San  Francisco,  shoninij  in  punndu  the  localities  from 

which  the  fish  came. 


Montbu. 

1803. 

1804. 

Sac- 
ramento 
River. 

Hum-    1 

boMt    1   Ocean. 
County.  1 

All  other 
rivers. 

ToUl. 

Snc-           11  uu- 
ramcntu       liuldt 
liivcr.      County. 

Ocean. 

All  other 
rivers. 

Total, 

Pounds. 
125, 015 
04,  708 
153,  487 
178,  720 
2(15,  330 
126,  277 

Poinidf. 

20, 708 

55,306 

117,334 

340,  053 

300,  004 

44,100 

17.  382 

,M5, 701 

Pounds. 
110,  ,574 
33,016 

Pounds. 

Pounds, 

5,058 

1,189 

6, 202 

.       1,  H95 

Pounds. 
130, 400 

00.111 
120,770 
347,  048 
310,036 

OU,  802 
122,  903 
544,773 

Pounds 

28.  530 
38.  308 

J'ounds. 
0(1.  485 

Pounds. 

Pounds. 

FebruaVy 

50.  .157  i _ 

5, 7M 
13,031 
3,069 

aiarch..' 

6. 150 

12!l,  IBl   !       11.205  1 

April 

17j.  051 
203,741 
120, 140 

\ 

Mftv 

072 

16,606 

105,  .521 

20, 072 

1,580 
0,131 

::...::::: 

July 

, 

October      

182, 130 
30,028 
47,040 

40,873 
143.  040 
09,303 

223,012 
182,677 
147, 249 

November 

.. 

Total 



.......... 

1,606,417 

433,565  1    161,931 

14,434 

3, 296, 347 

695,  057 

158,307 

7,720 

21,863  i    883,637  t 
1                  1 

284 


nULLETIN   OP   TUB    UNITED   STATES    FISH   COMMISSION. 


Balmo  gairdnerl.     Sierlhentl 

Salmo  mykls*.     f.ake  Trniit.     A  few  noen  which  hnd  beon  ohlpped  from  Oregon. 

Balmo  mykisB  henihawl.     f.nke  Tiihne  Trout.     Very  roiiimon. 

Atherinopsia  oalifornieiiBls.  .Smill.  During  my  viiiit  this  smelt  wna  morn  or  leaa  abundant.  It  i* 
liiipiiliir  mill  lirliigH  a  good  prii'o.    Tlio  Hiiticiiiioiis  (■xiiinincd  wore  In  i\  Hiinwnliig  rondition. 

Bphyreena  argentea.  Itiimnndn.  KcnohoH  .*<iiii  FruiioiHco  from  itoiiifH  Hoiitli  of  that  city,  the  bulk 
of  tli<>  Niipply  coming  from  tho  cxtrcmo  Nonthrrii  ])art  of  tlio  State. 

Scomber  ooliaa.  Miuhrnl .  This  (IhIi,  tlio  liiiirn-oyo  or  chub  miivkorcd  of  the  east  conut,  has  great 
food  viiliic  in  ."^an  Francisco  and  always  meets  with  ready  sale.  No  large  i|iiantitieH  were  seen, 
but  several  boxes  full  were  observed  on  a  uiiniber  of  occasions  between  .Inno  6  and  13.  The  lish 
weighs  about  <'l  poiindH,  and  sells  in  the  markets  at  10  to  20  cents  a  |ioiind. 

S.irda  chllenala     Itonito.     Weighs  10  to  l.'i  poiinilH.     C<miea  chiolly  from  the  south. 

Trachurua  plcturatus.     llome-mackeiel.    Not  iincominon. 

OrcymiB  alalonga.      I'liniiii.     A  few  oliserved  lliat  weighed  '.'()  or  !.'">  jioiiuds. 

Archoplit-ea  intcrriiptus.  I'cirli.  Oneof  tlio  iiest  frosh-watorfood-dsliesof  thoconst.  Itsabimdancn 
has  greatly  decreased  of  late,  and  the  price  keoiis  correspondingly  high,  averaging  more  than 
double  that  of  the  ehiiiook  salnioii.  The  greater  part  of  the  supply  (tomes  from  the  .Sacramento 
Hiver. 

Roocus  lliieatUB.  Slniinl  Ham.  The  most  commmi  name  by  which  this  lish  is  known  oit  the  oast 
coast,  viz,  rockllsh  or  rock,  is  fortunately  never  used  in  California,  the  designation  rockfisli  being 
reserved  for  various  species  of  iSebaittichlhy».  The  striped  bass  is  found  in  the  city  markets  at  all 
seasons;  in  fact,  there  is  not  a  day  in  the  year  when  it  ioay  not  bo  looked  for.  The  average 
weiglitiH  10  pounds, althoiighagreatmanyKmallerliHliare  sold.  In  I8!H)  the  board  of  supervisors 
of  .'^an  Francisco  County  passed  an  ordinance  making  it  unlawful  to  buy,  sell,  or  have  in  pos- 
session any  strijied  bass  weighing  less  than  H  ]ioun<ls.  In  1891  the  ordinance  was  amended 
reducing  the  mininiutn  weight  to  i!  pounds. 

Serlphua  politua.  h'iiitjjhh.  A  few  seen  every  day,  but  no  large  qnauiities  observed.  The  hulk  of 
the  receipts  conies  later  in  the  summer. 

ZSmbiotocidae.  I'ereh:  Salt-water  I'lrch.  Numerous  species  of  this  interesting  family  were  seen  in  the 
markets  daily,  the  most  abundant  being  Ditrema  j(H:knoni,  the  black  surf-lish,  and  JfjisterocarpUi, 
iraski,  the  "perch"  of  the  fresh-water  streams  of  this  region.  The  boxes  in  which  these  lish 
are  kept  in  the  markets  and  the  stalls  on  which  they  are  exposed  were  littered  with  the 
young. 

HexagracamuB  deoagrammus.     Sea  Trout;  Rock  Trout.    Common. 

Ophiodoii  elougatuB.  radfinli.  Even  at  this  late  day  there  are  many  Sau  Franciscans  who  believe 
the  true  cod  is  found  in  the  waters  immediately  adjacent  to  the  Golden  Gate,  and  this  lish,  the 
cultiis-cod,  is  sold  by  no  other  name  than  codtlsh  iu  the  markets  of  California.  Indeed,  I  was 
nppioached  by  at  least  one  dealer  who  wished  me  to  state  that  the  fish  he  hail  on  his  stall  was  a 
genuine  cod.  The  lish  is  found  in  8an  Francisco  Bay  and  in  the  adjacent  sea  at  all  times.  Exam- 
jiles  weighing  10  to  20  iioiinds  were  observed. 

Bebastichthys,  species.  Jlockfinh  ;  Hook-cod.  The  members  of  this  genus  arc  among  the  most  abundant 
and  important  lish  found  iu  the  markets.  The  annual  sales  are  considerably  over  1,000,(X)0 
pounds,  the  ruling  market  iirice  being  from  G  to  10  cents  a  pound.  Several  species  of  rockllsh, 
ill  varying  c|uautitios,  but  usually  abundant,  were  noticed  every  day.  Those  positively  identified 
were  the  rod  rocklish  (S.  ruber),  the  most  abundant  species,  the  black  ropklisb  (.S.  »i,i/«(inui),  the 
orange  rocklish  {S.  phinijiev),  and  the  yellow-tailed  rocklish  (iS.  /oi'i'i/hs). 

Mlcrogadiis  proximua.  Tomcod.  The  diminiitiveness  of  the  tomcod  would  naturally  be  expected 
to  jilace  it  at  a  great  di-sadvantage  among  the  many  large  llshes  of  this  coast  having  recognized 
food  value.  On  the  contrary,  however,  the  sales  are  quite  large  and  the  prices  are  good,  although 
niiicli  less  than  a  few  years  ago. 

HippoglosBUS  hippoglOBSus.  Haliliut.  A  few  are  taken  by  the  San  Francisco  market  fishermen,  but 
tlie  supply  i^  always  small  and  uncertain,  and  the  price  commanded  liy  the  fish  is  very  high, 
rnnning  from  10  to  2.">  cents  a  pound.  This  condition  of  atl'airs  oilers  a  good  opportunity  for 
th('  establishiiient  of  a  halibut  fishery  out  of  .San  Francisco,  and  it  seems  probable  that  a  very 

I  reinnnerative  fishery  might  in  time  be  built  up.     In  the  early  part  of  .Mine,  1894,  a  vessel  reached 

San  Francisco  from  the  banks  off  the  northern  coast  with  75,000  pounds  of  fresh  halibut. 


iiidant.     It  is 
iiilition. 
ity,  the  bulk 

nut,  has  (;rpnt 

t'H  vri^rvi  Neon, 

13.     The  liuh 


tHuliiindnnPA 
nn  lunio  tlmn 
0  iSacriimeuto 

n\  on  the  oast 

rockliHlibpiii)} 
inarkutsat  all 
Tlio  average 
r)!'  Hupiirvisors 
hnvo  ill  pos- 
was  uuiuixled 

The  bulk  of 

■ro  seen  in  tlio 
Iliisterorarpun 
licli  tlieso  fish 
ared  with  the 


8  who  believe 
this  llsh,  the 
Indeed,  I  was 
liiH  stall  was  a 
inies.     Kxam- 

lost  abnndaut 
over  1,000,000 
3S  of  rockilsh, 
.I'ly  identified 
myatinut),  the 

jT  be  expected 
ng  recoj:Mized 
cod,  although 

ishernien,  but 
is  very  liigh, 

iportuuity  for 

le  that  a  very 
essel  reached 

liulibut. 


N(JTE8   ON   THE    I'ISHKKIKS    UI'    THE    PACIFIC    COAST. 
The  result  of  this  ventnre  is  thus  described  in  the  I'.xnminif  nf  .lime  10: 


285 


"The  IInIi  war  wliieli  hax  been  agitating  the  liieal  llKlii>rnii'n  I'lii'  the  ]iaNt  ten  days  is  now  over 
for  (lie  present.  Cupt.  I>.  .lolinHim,  nt  Ihe  scliiinner  h'hniiiil,  whu  ranie  down  from  ihe  nortliern 
waters  with  a  eurgo  of  halllmt,  lias  sold  out,  and  it  will  he  IIn  e.  or  si\  weeks  before  he  will  lie 
back  Willi  another  load.  Wlieii  the  /•./irmii//!  cargo  arrivi'd  h.ililmt  w  lis  retailing  at  L'5  <  int»  a 
poniid,  iind  it  n  as  searce  at  that,  (.'iiptain  .lohnson  ollered  to  Mill  nil  his  llnh  to  the  ri.'<lierinen's 
I'nion  at  a  very  small  price,  liiit  they  would  not  iiceept  it,  and  the  eiiptain  opeind  np  a  llsh 
market  on  the  ileek  of  the  sehooner,  selling  retail  at  •'>  eeiils  a  poiiiid.  lie  kepi  two  men  biiMV 
entting  up  the  tish  for  rnHtoiners,  and  in  live  days  the  whole  nirgo  of  7."),l)()(l  poiindH  was  milii. 
When  the  Italian  lisheiiiieii  heard  the  Klwniid  was  eomiiig  w  itii  n  eargo  of  lialiliiit  they  illlonned 
the  cnstoms  ofllelals  that  the  sehiioner  was  I'oniing  down  the  riiaHt  with  opiiiiii.  'fliat  inloriiia- 
tion  was  sent  to  the  sound,  and  when  the  Ehviiml  was'passing  Cape  flattery  a  revenue  entter 
o  verb  ail  led  her,  but  only  tisli  and  lie  were  found  on  Iioard.  When  the  \  eNNel  tied  np  lit  I  he  dock 
the  health  inspectors  were  informed  that  she  had  acargo  ol  rotten  llsh.  and  an  inspei  tor  was 
sent  to  her  at  once,  but  he  bmiglit  Ihe  largest  IIhIi  he  could  Iind  and  took  it  home  for  liis  own 
table.  .None  of  the  lish-dealers  dared  handle  the  lialilnit  for  fear  of  being  boycotted  liy  tlie 
local  men,  and  Captain  .lohnson  was  furced  to  open  a  market  or  throw  the  llsh  overboard. 

"As  soon  as  he  began  to  sell  the  local  men  got  into  their  boiits  and  every  net.iii  San  Kranclseo 
was  set  for  fish.  They  hoped  to  make  a  good  >'atcli  and  glut  Ihe  market,  but  luck  was  against 
them  and  they  returned  almost  empty.  There  was  conKei|iiently  a  big  demand  for  hiililinl.  and 
now  the  schooner  is  cleared  of  her  cargo.  The  local  lishermen  say  that  another  cargo  shall  not 
lie  sold  in  San  hYiineisco." 

Parallchthys  callfoniiotis.     Ilulihul.    Cnmnioiily  sold  under  the  nauio  of  halibut. 

Psettichthys  melanostlctus.     i^ole.    Only  a  few  seen. 

Pleuronectes  Btellatus.  I'loiiiidir.  This  was  the  most  abundant  and  eonstant  lloundcr  in  the 
markets.  Knorinous  i|iiautitios  were  observed  only  (i  or  7  inches  long.  The  largest  weighed 
about  16  pounds.  Aluch  the  largest  part  of  the  llatllslies  which  reach  the  San  I'riiucisco 
markets  is  caught  by  steam  vessels  fishing  with  paranzellus  off  the  ninuth  of  Drake  Kay. 

Ill  iuldition  to  fl.sli  pioper,  a  voiy  L'-Ktcihsivc  tiadt'  i.sdono  in  other  finlieiy  piodncts 
in  tlie  San  l"'rim<;i.sco  nuirkets.  In  fact,  the  value  of  tlie  niolhi.sks,  cru.staeeivn.s,  and 
reptiles  which  enter  into  the  tish  trade  of  the  city  is  greater  than  that  of  the  liish. 
The  fi>lh)\viii}j:  prodiictH,  which  constitute  all  the  ]uiii<ripal  economic  a(|uatic  objects 
additional  lo  tish,  were  observed  in  the  nnirkeUs  in  greater  or  less  abnndance; 

MOLLi;.SKS. 

Ommastrephes  tryoul.     Squid.     Consumed  chiefly  by  the  (Miincso,  although  also  eaten  by  natives  of 

southern  Europe.     On  one  occasion  a  I'ortugnese  woman  was  seen  to  take  a  small  fresli  sipiid 

from  a  counter,  bite  off  its  bead,  and  devour  it  with  a)ipareiit  gusto! 
Octopus  punctatus.     Oviopim;  !)fril-li«li.     Usually  exposed  for  sale  by  suspending  from  hooks  in  the 

stalls  or  at  the  doors  of  markets.     Katen  by  ('hinese. 
Ostrea  rufa.    Xalire  ftyntcr;  I'tilifnrxiii  OtiHirr.    Sells  for iflt to $t  jier bushel.     The  flavor  is  "coppery," 

and  the  oyster  can  not  lie  relished  by  one  not  accnstomed  to  it. 
Ostrea  virglnioa.     Juislrni  Oynter.    The  anuiial  sali  s  are  over  100,000  bnshcls,  valued  ut  about  .f  I  per 

bushel.    The  sujiply  comes  from  San  Francisco  Hay,  and  depends  wholly  on  seed  and  |daiits 

brought  from  the  Kast. 
Tapes  Btamiuea.     Ilnrd  Vlam.  f 

Mya  arenaria.     Soft  Clam. 
Modiola  capaz.     Miiisel.  \        '■'-'■ 

CRUSTACEANS. 

Cancer  magister.  This  was  the  only  crab  seen  in  the  marhets.  It  weighs  from  1  to  4  pounds,  the 
average  being  Ij  or  2  pounds.  Next  to  oysters,  it  is  the  most  valuabh,'  of  the  invertelirato  prod- 
ucts. The  annual  siles  amount  to  1,200,000  to  2,000,000  crabs,  having  a  viiliio  of  5  to  7  cents 
each.     The  supply  is  largely  from  Sau  Francisco  Hay. 

Panulirus  iaterruptus.  Crawjinh  ;  Lobnter.  Reference  to  the  spiny  lobster  will  l)e  found  in  a  separate 
chapter.    The  name  crawfish,  by  which  this  is  often  called,  is  an  unfortunate  misnomer. 


286 


HULLETIN    OK    THE    UMTKD    STATKS   FI8II    COMMISSION. 


Craugoti  fraiioUoorum.  Xhiimii.  'I'lic  m\\on  ol'  nliriinii  in  Sun  rrnix'Uco  ani  very  Iiii'KO,  uihI  Iiiivi* 
iiiiri'iiHi'il  III'  laid  ,v(>arH.  At  tlio  incHciit  time  tlii'  Nliiiiii|i  Ih,  iirxt  In  tin*  criili.  tlic  moxt  valinilWn 
(TiiHlai'iMiii  I'lili'iiiiK  into  llii*  I'ily'H  Hiipply  of  wiiti'i'  rnnil,  iiiiil  in  cxcftolcil  in  valiin  only  l<y 
nynli'i'H,  NofI  I'laiiift,  and  cniliN.  In  Ihnm  Mr,  Wilcox  I'ounil  lliat  l!!lO,(Njll  ponndn  of  IVcnIi  Klirimp, 
worth  i)<2ll,20<l,  or  M  iniilHa  jioiinil,  wrri'  hhIiI  in  llio  nuirkolM;  in  IHilH  Mr.  AIi'XhuiUt  uitciTtainfil 
that  tho  riM'ttiplH  aiiionnli'il  to  hi;5,IMM)  ponriilN,  valnril  at  !|<l  t,J5(),  or  fi  I't^iitn  u  jionnil.  Ak  Id  \v»I1 
known,  Iho  Khriinp  llHliiTy  Ih  in  Ihu  hanilH  of  thi'  ChinrMu,  who,  in  adilitlon  to  RelliliK  largo 
uumlturs  in  u  fruaU  conilitton,  ilry  uuil  nbip  to  Chinii  niuch  lurgur  i|uuutHlv8. 

HKPTII.ES. 

Raiia  pretloaa.     lluUJ'nuj.    ThiH  nnir",itt  \n  ll^'oioK  >>>orit  oonHpicnoiiHly  in  thu  Hitn  KraiKiMco  markctit 

nai'h  year,  anil  ulri'aily  lian  ^'.cat  voinnixrcial  vahif.    'I'lio  rnlinji;  pric»  U  ifH  to  iM  per  iluzen,  anil 

tlin  annual  Malrs  anionnt  to  hetwucn  5,000  unil  10,(H)0  ilo/eii. 
Chelopiia  marmoratua.     Teiraj  in.     Mrtwc<<n   1,000  and  2,(K)0  dozen  are  lold  itnnunlly  in  San  Kran- 

ciHro,  at  $',i  to  ii<'>  per  dor,»n      Tho  Hupply  coiniMt  rhiflly  from  tho  niarHli,y  rogiuiignt  tliuii mith  of 

tlio  Sarranmnto  Hivor. 
Chelonin  virgata.     Nia   rnrlle;  (ititn  Turtle.     KcachcH  thu  San  I'ranrinco  nuirkuts  IVoni  the  sontlieri' 

I'ouHl  uiul  l.owiT  California, 


THE  I-ACIFIC  WHALE  FISHERY. 

The  i>rin(;ipiil  whaling  port  in  tho  United  HtatcH  is  now  San  Fraiirisco.  Be«  ■'"" 
having  a  imiiicrons  lionic  tlect,  tliat  city  is  the  rondezvons  of  a  large  nninber  of  New 
Bedford  vessels.  The  growth  of  the  m  hnliiig  iiidii.stry  on  the  west  <'oast  has  been  due 
to  the  scarcity  of  whales  in  the  Atlantic  and  their  abnndaiice  in  the  North  Pacific  and 
Arctic  oceans.  The  jjresent  importance  of  the  whale  fishery  carried  ou  from  Han 
Francisco  is  largely  due  to  tlu*  extensive  nso  of  steam  vessels,  which  are  ccmsidcreil 
e8,sential  lor  the  projter  pro>secntion  of  (he  business  in  the  more  noitliern  latitudes. 

The  year  18(K1  was  the  most  successful  one  in  the  history  of  the  Pacific  whale 
fishery.  The  San  Francisco  fleet  killed  and  ntili/ed  over  350  Avhale.s,  of  which  294 
were  bowheads,  a  much  larger  number  than  had  lu'cn  obtained  in  any  i)ievions  year. 
The  ((uautity  of  bone  represented  by  this  catch  was  401, <KM)  ])oiinds,  valued  at 
$l,L'4t>,l()8;  and  (»,74()  barrels  of  oil,  worth  $!>3,100,  were  extracted. 

The  fleet  consisted  of  4(i  vessels,  of  which  -*()  were  sailing  craft  and  lid  wore 
steamers.  Kleven  of  the  sailing  vessels  took  l(i  bowhead  whales  and  1>  took  none,  the 
sea.son  for  this  class  of  vessels  thus  being  a  failure. 

The  yciir  was  remarkable  for  the  remote  grounds  frequented  by  the  steamers,  and 
the  abundance  of  whales  there  foniid.  Wiiile  none  of  the  sailing  vessels  ventured 
east  of  Point  ISarrow,  owing  to  the  ice  and  fog,  a  large  part  of  the  steam  fleet  did  so, 
going  as  far  as  Herschel  Island,  (^ape  liathnist,  and  Banks  Island.  Four  steamers, 
which  had  wintered  at  the  north  of  the  Mackenzie  Uiver,  took  94  whales  off  Cape 
Bathnrst,  where  they  went  in  .Inly.  Heturning  to  the  \  Icinity  of  Ilerscbel  Island, 
they  were  joined  l)y  9  steamers  from  the  west,  and  this  fleet  of  1.5  vessels  took  Ui4 
whales  by  the  middle  of  September,  IS9,'$.  Ten  vessels  that  went  to  Okhotsk  Sea  and 
Bristol  Bay  cai)tnred  l.">  whales,  2  obtaining  nothing. 

The  present  aspects  of  whaling  in  the  Pacific  are  thus  referred  to  by  tho  San 
Francisco  Call: 

Tho  whalo  is  destined  to  disappear  from  the  North  I'aeiflc,  nuieh  more  speedily  than  ho  was  driven 
from  the  eastern  approaehes  to  tlie  Arctie.  The  whale  lleet  sailinn  out  of  the  jjort  of  8au  I'rnueisoo 
has  this  year  <'an({lit  in  Antie  regions  no  Iiks  than  ICi.l  whales.  The  jiroduet  of  this  season's  cateli 
would  have  been  represented  by  about  if^.tHKl.tKH)  had  prires  remained  as  they  were  about  three  years 
ago.     Wheu  one  small  steamer  takes  6:^  whales  in  a  single  season,  and  a  still^mallcr  one  kills  64,  there 


(V,  llllll    IlltVP 
Oxt    Vltllllllllo 

llllll  only  liy 

'ri'Nli  Hliriinp, 
iiHivrtiiiiiiiil 
Ah  JH  wtill 

xfIIiiik  lart{v 


iHI'll   llllll'kctM 

ir  iluxi'M,  mill 

ill  Sun  Frnii- 
tllr  II  until  of 

the  HoiitherL' 


Be,;  '-^ 
Ikt  oC  New 
IS  1)0011  due 

Pacific  and 
1  Ironi  Siiii 

ooiisidcreil 
1  liititndt'S. 
urilic  wliule 
f  wliich  294 
nioiis  yciii'. 
,  valued  at 

id  L'(!  were 
k  none,  the 

•aiuers,  and 
Is  ventured 
fleet  did  so, 
r  steamers, 
es  ott"  Cape 
bel  Island, 
ds  took  lti4 
siv  Sea  and 

by  the  San 

10  was  driven 
au  FrautiHci) 
sasoii'a  catoli 
t  tlireo  years 
kill8  64,  thvru 


NOTES    ON    TMK    KIHIIEUIES    (»K    TIIK    I'ACIKIC   C'CAHT. 


287 


in  a  MtiikltiK  illiiHti'Htlon  of  whiit  Mteiiiii  in  (IoIiik  f<i<'  I'le  itxtnriniiiatiini  of  tint  wlialo  in  tlin  rmillc. 
riii<r<>  will  lie  no  rcntricllon.  'I'lir  whaln  llNlii'ry  liv  Hiillinij  vi'Khi-Ih  Iiuh  liir  mhiio  tiinr  iicrii  iiii|irollliililu. 
Wliat  till)  NiiilliiK  i-ralt  wniilil  not  ilo  in  a  lir»tliiiu  of  yiMii'H  tli«  Ml(*»ni  wlialor  f>'ill  |iri'tt,\  i<llt<i'tiially 
accDinpliNli  in  a  viiry  fuw  yxara, 

MINOR  NOTES. 

A   I.AIiUK   SKATK. 

At  AHtoria,  on  .lane  L'O,  two  saliiioii  {{ill-net  flslierineii  brought  in  u  very  large 
skate,  wliirli  liad  hecoine  entan;;lcd  in  tlieii'  net  at  tlie  nioiitli  id' tlit^  river,  it  was 
landed  at  a  cannery,  and  was  said  by  a  number  of  people  wlio  saw  it  t(t  iiave  been 
the  largest  akate  ever  lauded  in  Astoria.  Its  greatest  width  was  5  feet,  its  total 
lentjth  was  a  little  over  (I  feet,  and  its  wei},'lit  was  150  pounds.  A  Chinese  sabnoii 
dresser  was  enga};ed  to  ojien  tlielish;  its  alimentary  traet  was  found  to  contain  a 
number  of  eral)!,  (r«;«^r  w*«(//«^tT),  some  of  which  were  almost  whole.  The  dliinese 
cannery  hands  watched  the  e\  isceiatimi  of  the  skate  very  intently,  and  when  the 
oppoi'tunity  (uiine  hastily  madeiott  with  the  intestines,  which  are,  by  tlieni,  consnleied 
a  giciit  delicacy.  From  a  sketch  made  of  this  skate  and  an  examination  of  the  teeth 
the  specimen  has  since  been  identillt'd  as  the  \>\n  skate  ( /iVm'x  cooperi  (iirard).  It  in 
the  largest  representative  of  the  genus  on  the  Pacific  coast,  and  is  hnid  by  Jordan 
iVt  (lilbert  to  have  an  egg  (lase  nearly  a  foot  in  length.  According  to  the.  o authorities, 
it  is  abundant  from  Monterey  to  Sitka. 

FIHH   IN   LOS   AN<»BLEH   MAKKET. 

At  Lo8  Angeles,  on  .Iiiiie  ~>,  the  following  meager  representatives  of  the  rich  fish 
fauna  of  the  coast  of  Los  Angeles  County  were  seen  in  the  market,  which  is  sii[»plied 
by  the  fishermen  of  San  I'edro: 

Serlola  doraalis.     Vellow-ttiil.    One  IImU  wtiiKliinu  LTi  ]ioiinilH. 
Orcynus  alaloiiga.     Albiuore.     Onr  wiiinliin-;  LT)  iiipiiikIh. 
Sarda  cbllenslB.     Ilonito.     Two  having;  wei^ilit  of  S  |ioiinilH  oncli, 
Halichoerea  semicliictua.     Kiliifinli.     Si'venil  wriKliiiig  iilioiit  a  ]iounil  oacb. 

Sebaatichthya,  Hprvies.     Uorkjinli.    A  nnniliur  of  tlieHu  tinh,  belonging  to  Hvvoral  Hjteciea,  wore  on  oale. 
Leptocottuaiarmatua.     Sciilpiii.     A  few. 
Parallchthya  oallfornloua.     Halibut.    Srvoral. 
Oncorhynohua  chouicha.     Salmon.    A  few  from  San  Francisco. 
Miorogadua  proxlmua.     Tomvinl.     (;oinniiiii. 

Some  anchovies  (iS7«/(7»/iorM»  nwf/e«#)  prepared  as  '•  Russian  sardines"  were  also 
.seen. 

FRESII-WATEK    (."UAWFISII. 

The  business  of  takiiu''  crawfish  for  market  is  of  very  recent  origin,  and  their  utili- 
zation is  as  yet  limited,  y.-veral  sjiecies  of  the  genus  I'ottiinohinti  are  t'oiiiid  in  the  west 
coast  States,  but  they  are  taken  only  in  a  few  localities.  They  may  be  seen  «^\i>osed 
for  sale  in  San  li'ranci.sco  and  Portland.  Tliev  are  especially  numerous  in  the  sloughs 
of  the  Columbia  and  Willamette  rivers,  from  which  the  greater  part  of  the  siii»idy  is 
now  drawn,  although  they  occur  in  great  abundance  in  suitable  situations  throughout 
this  region.  On  .lune  18  several  hundreil  remarkably  large  and  fine  looking  crawfish 
were  seen  at  a  lish-stand  in  Portland.  Some  were  somewhat  over  •»  inches  in  body 
length. 


288 


BULLETIN    OF   THE    UNITED   STATES   FISH    COMMISSION. 


The  Oregonian  of  June  10  stated  in  regaul  tc  the  crawfish  trade  of  that  city: 

Thu  Urat  ohipnieiit  of  big  crawfisU  from  down  the  river  was  received  hero  yesterday,  and  tmma 
of  t'-.eiii  wore  who|))iei'B.  at  lonst  6  iiiohrs  In  longtli.  Thoy  look  more  like  youug  lobsters  than  ordi- 
nary or:uvfiHii.  Tbcro  ie  quite  a  demand  for  tlicso  crustaeoans,  now  thiit  tho  AnierioanH  bave  bej^un 
to  Iriirii  wliiit  the  Krencli  and  Gfcrniaim  lia\  ■  li>ng  known — (hut  they  ari^  do.licai'ies.  Tboro  is  no  end 
of  tbcni  ill  till!  Coliii:'  irt  i.nd  \VllliiMi<!tti\  wlioro  tlipy  (>row  to  lari;«  nIzc,  and  smaller  on(\<  aro  fiiiiud 
in  nearly  every  .stnraiii  in  tlio  State.  Quite  a  biiKiness  is  done  by  soveral  persons  in  sliipping  cookeil 
.inii  spii'ed  erawlisb  to'Sau  I'riineiseo,  wbero  there  is  a  great  demand  for  them,  and  thoy  are  now  found 
regularly  on  tiic  bill  of  faro  at  a  niiiuber  of  restaurants.  It  is  not  likely  tha'  'here  will  ever  bo  so 
many  millions  of  dollars  in  the  crawtii'li  fishi'ry  as  in  the  salmon,  or  evf,n  ii:  '\o  sturgeon  and  shad, 
bnt  it  can  be  nia,.o  to  yield  a  protit  to  nuiny  flsbermen, 

INIr.  A.  B.  Alcxaiitler,  of  the  Fish  Con'.niission  steati  ?r  AJImfross,  found  tlnit  in 
18!>3  t\w  quiintity  </i"  ci-iiwfi.sh  received  by  Poiti.iud  dealers  wa^  L'i>,OUO  dozen,  with  a 
value  to  tiie  fisliernien  of  A.'^OCO,  or  1  cent  eae't. 

FISHES  OF  MONTEREY  BAY   AND   VICINITY. 

Tlie  mounted  collectioti  of  fishes  of  Mr.  11.  0.  Winston,  of  ranific  Grove,  has 
alrt-ady  heen  referred  to.  The  collsetiou  is  inter  iPting  in  that  it  is  a  fair  representation 
of  the  tish  f^iuua  of  a  definitt'  part  of  tlio  coast,  oeingniadeup  from  specimens  drawn 
almost  exclusively  fron).  the  iiniiiediate  vicinity  of  Monterey;  that  is,  from  Monterey 
Bay  aird  the  adjacent  oceen.  Mr.  Winston  has  courteously  supplied  alistof  the  fishes, 
Tfyhich  discloses  some  interesting  species  and  seenis  Morthy  of  presentation. 


J'olialolremn  ntniiii.     llagfish. 
Heplrniichiiti  miiciu^tiin.     Sevcn-gillod  .■ihark. 
CaMiiK  iitrr.     I'nlTv  8::ark. 
TriakU  Mmifaitc  aliis.     Leopard  shark. 
CarcJiaruiHii  'jlaueut,     llluesliirk. 
.iloiiii,.     ,,'pfk.    Threahof  shark, 
Inmiiii  comuhica.     Maekerel  shark, 
SqiKi'  n  iicuiilliws.     Dog  shark, 
Ithiiiuooliiit  proUiicliiti.     Shovel-uo3C  shark. 
A'nid  itiurnala.     Skate. 
lluiii  Ktilliilata.    Skate. 
MnViohtili^  c((lij'b)niciif.     Stingray. 
Jteiiidomiiniii  borealh.     Lnnoe  i:«h.     liiire. 
Synoili  » liiciorei)).     I.izard-fi''i. 
jiJca/MS  califoi-Kh'iie.     Klyiug-lisb. 
SitthiK'touiu  e«/i/o»TficH«('.     Pipefish. 
llipiiMiiiii, -III:  hi(jei\K.    sW'ft-borse.     Rar.!, 
Syhjirona  nrr/enttu.     Barraeu   n. 
Hcomheieoliiit.     Mackerel. 
Sa>;'a  rhilenifin.     Skipjack. 
7Vii'ni/i«v  picliirnliix.     Ilorso  mackerel. 
Seriiila  (lorialU.     Vehowtail. 
Oirtlla  nii/ricans.     Kingtisb. 
Ditreimi  laUrtile.     Hl'io  perch. 

.    Surftish. 

CnnhlatHiiH  yirinc";./*.     Whiteftsh. 
Hexiiiji'iinimiis  diraiirnmmii'i.     Sea  trout. 
Ophioiion  rli)n(/.iliin.     California  cod. 
Auoptu^onia  Jimhiiii.     IJlack  cod. 


HebauiodcH  pa  icisfiinin.     Itoceaecio 
Sebarlichllnja  llaridr.n.     Vellowtaileil  rccklisb. 

>:Hniat)ii>.     l.'aHber, 

ruhev.     Ued  rocklish.     Very  rare. 

t'oHHtellalHs.     Spotted  corsair. 

mali;ifr. 

nehiil.'xiii.    Gfvrrupa. 

neniieps.     Treefish.   Noi  common. 

niniocinctiis.     Hlaek-banded  rockJisll. 
One  specimen. 

f/dodei. 
Sehnatt>l(.f»ii>    nhmcnnng.     Alaska   rock-cod.     Very 

rar,-.     Two  specimer.s, 
I'.eliiiiix  ijiiiidriner'.aliiii.     Sculpin, 
Knnphrtjs  binon.     Scorpion-fisb. 
Ndutichthijn  ocnlofaMtitits.     Sculpin,     Four  speci- 
mens, 
lih(tmphncoHu»  ridiardtoHi.    liamflsh, 
J'orirkthiiH  manjnritalnn.     Midsbipman. 
Xriu-Uniin  anliniiin.     UatOsb.     Karc. 
Cliiiiifi  li-idfi.     Illenny. 
Xiphislcr  viu^ioinx.     (Jlenuy, 
Cebi'diclilhijK  marm,iialiiii.    (.'rested  blenny. 
AiKiirichlhiiD  ocelhnts.     Wolf-lish. 
Mil  rogadua  proximun.    Tomcod. 
[UppoghnmiH  hippoulot^im.     Halibut, 
Lepidopaetin  bihiicata.     Solo, 
rhuronecten  ittllatus.    Uough-jacket  llonnder. 


hat  city : 

nlay,  ami  some 
iters  thiiu  orili- 
iiH  have  bej^iin 
riiero  is  no  end 
oiica  aro  foiiuil 
lii|)pii>fi  codked 
i'  iiro  now  fo\iiiil 
will  ever  1)«  so 
rgeou  (lutl  !<li!ui, 

oniid  tliiit  iu 
dozen,  with  a 


c  Grove,  has 
eprosen  t.atiou 
jiuiens  (h'awu 
cm  I^Iontoroy 
t  of  the  fishes, 
)n. 


leil  rockfiah. 

,     Very  rare. 
I  corssiir. 


Noi  ooniaiou. 
bnndeil  rocktisli. 


rock- cod.    Very 


liii.     ror.r  speci- 

ilBll. 

[irnan. 
re. 


d  blenny. 


nit. 

;kct  rionndei. 


